Heavily armed men attacked a hospital in Haiti on Monday night without causing any casualties, one of the facility’s managers said, a new example of the widespread violence plaguing that Caribbean country.
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The attackers surrounded the perimeter of Mirebalais Hospital, one of the country’s largest hospitals, from midnight to 5 a.m. and fired on facilities, Dr. Réginald Ternier told AFP by telephone.
“This morning we observed bullet holes on the facades of several buildings” of the hospital, located just over 50 km from the capital Port-au-Prince, while “the neonatal intensive care unit is affected.” he said, specifying that large-caliber bullet casings had been found.
No deaths or gunshot wounds were reported following the attack, Dr. However, Ternier spoke of trauma and property damage.
“Patients, residents and staff experienced the attack in the middle of the night. “You are in shock,” he complained, deeming the attack incomprehensible.
“It is difficult for us to understand the motives behind such an attack. We receive patients of all types, regardless of their social rank, affiliation or activities,” he explained.
Before the attack on the hospital, attackers armed with automatic weapons carried out an attack on Saut d’Eau, a village not far from Mirebalais, on Friday. In an interview on Sunday on Radio Magik 9, the mayor of Saut d’Eau Marie Andrée Ruth Thelus reported at least eleven dead, dozens injured and several houses burned down.
On Monday, Saut d’Eau was the target of a new attack, without further information on the possible number of victims being released.
Haiti, a poor Caribbean country, is plagued by gang violence that reigns terror. According to the UN, more than 2,400 people have died since the beginning of the year.
For almost a year, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have been calling for the deployment of an international force to help police overwhelmed by this violence.
The United States announced on Friday that several countries, led by Kenya, intend to contribute to the force, but it will undoubtedly take several months to assemble, let alone deploy effectively.