Imagine a city where 90% of its streets are controlled by gangs, and the very institutions meant to heal are under siege. This is the grim reality in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, where Doctors Without Borders has been forced to permanently close its emergency care center, a decision that sends shockwaves through an already devastated community. But here’s where it gets even more heartbreaking: this isn’t just about one facility shutting down—it’s part of a larger collapse. Over 60% of the city’s health facilities, including the general hospital, have either closed or are barely functioning due to escalating gang violence. And this is the part most people miss: the closure of these centers means thousands are left without access to critical care in a nation already grappling with unimaginable hardship.
The story of the Turgeau emergency center is particularly chilling. In March 2025, armed men opened fire on Doctors Without Borders vehicles evacuating staff, forcing a temporary closure. While no one was seriously injured, the incident highlighted the perilous conditions under which aid workers operate. Jean-Marc Biquet, head of the organization’s mission in Haiti, explained, ‘The building has been hit multiple times by stray bullets due to its proximity to combat zones, making it too dangerous to reopen for both patients and staff.’ Before the attack, the center had been a beacon of hope, treating over 300 patients in just one week and providing more than 2,500 medical consultations in February alone. From 2021 to March 2025, it served over 100,000 patients—a lifeline now severed.
But here’s the controversial part: As the international community debates sending peacekeeping forces, including a proposed deployment from Kenya, critics argue that such interventions could exacerbate tensions or fail to address the root causes of the crisis. Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that from January to June, over 3,100 people were killed and 1,100 injured across Haiti. Gang violence has also displaced a staggering 1.4 million people—a 36% increase since the end of 2024. Almost two-thirds of these displacements occurred outside Port-au-Prince, particularly in central Haiti, where makeshift shelters have more than doubled from 142 in December to 238 this year.
This raises a critical question: Can Haiti’s healthcare system—and its people—survive this onslaught? And what role should the global community play in addressing this crisis? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.
