Haitian police heavily armed patrolled the University Hospital in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Gary Conille. The hospital has been closed for over five months because gangs took control of the area.
On Sunday night, police clashed with a few remaining gang members and cleared the area for the Prime Minister’s visit. The hospital and nearby buildings show signs of damage from gunfire and violence.
This action is part of a larger international effort to stabilize the situation in Haiti. The U.N. recently sent a group of Kenyan police to help reduce the violence in the country.
During his visit, Prime Minister Conille, along with the Haitian police chief, described the area as a “war zone.” The violence has not only kept the University Hospital closed but has also forced other hospitals and clinics in the city to shut down. The healthcare system is struggling to manage a rising number of patients, and the rainy season is expected to make things worse by increasing the risk of diseases.
The ongoing violence has made it very difficult for people to get medical care, adding to the challenges facing Haiti’s healthcare system.
