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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A journalist who survived a brutal gang attack on reporters in Haiti vividly described the horrors he witnessed, including fellow journalists being struck down by gunfire and others suffering severe injuries without immediate assistance. The incident occurred during the reopening of the largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince, where two journalists and one police officer were killed, with seven other journalists sustaining injuries.

Photographer Jean Fregens Regala recounted the traumatic experience, stating, “Some were hit in the chest. Some of the journalists had part of their face destroyed,” with others shot in the mouth or head. The gang known as Viv Ansanm, which dominates much of Port-au-Prince, surrounded the hospital and opened fire through a metal gate. They later voiced their anger over the government’s announcement of the hospital’s reopening without their consent.

Footage from within the hospital during the attack shows a metal gate bending under the onslaught of gunfire, as reporters frantically sought refuge inside. Regala explained, “All the journalists started moving to go inside the hospital because we heard that the gunfire was getting close to us.” He described taking cover behind a gate while urging others to stay safe, but many were rushing toward the building amid the relentless shooting.

Regala was fortunate to have remained sheltered behind a concrete guardhouse, stating, “If I had rushed… I am sure I would be among the victims.” As chaos ensued, he began shouting for help for those bleeding profusely, but lamented, “There was no doctor or nurse around.” The hospital was unprepared for casualties, lacking medical supplies for first aid. In the absence of gloves, he described using plastic bags for protection while trying to assist the injured.

The health minister did not appear at the scene, and when police finally responded to the journalists’ urgent requests for help—approximately two hours later—they had to use a ladder to come over a wall due to the gangs’ control of the streets. Regala emphasized the delay in assistance, noting, “These people spent more than an hour losing blood.”

In response to the violence against journalists, the Haitian Association of Journalists released a statement urging the struggling government to prioritize the safety of reporters and the public. The association called on authorities to proceed with caution in organizing events that could expose journalists and attendees to potential danger.

Regala noted that the situation around the hospital was clearly unsafe upon their arrival. He remarked on the miscommunication with police, saying that officers were unaware of the reopening event despite being invited by the health minister.

The government has yet to respond to these concerns, as the seven injured journalists were transported to another medical facility for treatment. In the wake of the attack, Haiti’s interim president Leslie Voltaire expressed condolences to the victims and their families in a national address.

Gang violence has gained a firm grip on Port-au-Prince, with criminal groups controlling an estimated 85% of the city, including attacks on the main international airport and the country’s largest prisons. Johnson “Izo” André—seen as a prominent gang leader associated with the Viv Ansanm coalition—released a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack, citing a lack of authorization for the hospital reopening.

Haiti has witnessed an alarming trend of violence against journalists, with two local reporters killed earlier in 2023. The deteriorating security situation has led to a crisis within the healthcare system, characterized by looting and the destruction of medical facilities. Regala emphasized the need to continue his work despite his family’s concerns for his safety, asserting, “The work needs to continue, to make sure the population is kept informed.”
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