Policeman, Two Journalist Killed As Gunmen Open Fire At A Public Event

Two reporters and a police officer lost their lives when gunmen opened fire on journalists in a shocking attack that reverberated through the streets of Port-au-Prince.

The tragedy unfolded during the inauguration of Haiti’s largest public hospital, an event that was supposed to herald hope in a violence-torn nation.

As officials reported, this hospital had been reclaimed by the government just months prior after being besieged and devastated by powerful gangs. With a sense of pride and achievement, the government completed its reconstruction, only to see the day marred by an unspeakable act of violence.

See also  16 Days Of Activism: C4J Call For Arrest Of Perpetrators, After Lady Was Stripped, Paraded Naked Within Emoh -Abua Community

Journalists, gathered in anticipation of Health Minister Lorthe Blema’s arrival, were caught off guard as armed men unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Distressing images surfaced online, revealing the grim reality inside the hospital, where chaos erupted amidst the cries of the injured.

“It felt like a terrible movie,” recalled Dieugo André, a photojournalist who was present during the harrowing event. “I have the blood of several injured journalists on my clothes,” he lamented, as the horror of the day unfolded in his mind.

Robest Dimanche, spokesperson for the Online Media Collective, confirmed to the AFP news agency that the two slain journalists were Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean, their promises of truth silenced far too soon.

Notably, the notorious Viv Ansanm gang alliance, which had controlled the hospital since March, posted a chilling video online, brazenly claiming responsibility for the assault. They declared that they had not approved the hospital’s reopening, a menacing reminder of the power they wield over the beleaguered population.

Leslie Voltaire, head of Haiti’s presidential transitional council, responded with gravity, stating, “We express our sympathy to all the victims’ families, especially to the Haiti National Police and the journalists’ associations. We guarantee that this act will not go unpunished.”

In a country teetering on the brink of collapse, where the United Nations estimates that 5,000 lives have been lost to violence this year alone, the echoes of gunfire serve as a stark reminder of the relentless conflict that grips Haiti.