Haiti's Prime Minister Condemns Destruction of General Hospital After Gang Siege

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille expressed dismay on Tuesday over the devastation inflicted upon the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, following its recovery from a four-month siege by powerful gangs. Touring the facility alongside Haiti National Police Chief Rameau Normil, Conille denounced the hospital's transformation into a war zone, highlighting bullet-riddled walls and toppled furnishings as stark reminders of the prolonged conflict that had rendered the hospital and its adjacent replacement facility unusable.

Normil announced on Monday the successful recapture of the General Hospital, a significant victory amid ongoing violence that has plagued Port-au-Prince since February 29. The hospital, located near the presidential palace and targeted by armed gangs seeking to destabilize the government, had been forced to close and evacuate patients due to the dangerous surroundings.

Once a bustling institution treating up to 1,500 patients daily before its closure, the General Hospital faced challenges even before the siege, having been severely damaged in Haiti's 2010 earthquake. Plans for a new 534-bed facility, supported by substantial international funding including $44 million from the French Agency for Development and $35 million from USAID, had aimed to rejuvenate medical services. However, despite these investments, the future of the new hospital remains uncertain amidst ongoing security concerns.

Accompanying Conille during the visit were members of Haiti's presidential council and representatives from the French embassy, underscoring international interest in restoring operations at the hospital. The French Agency for Development has called for an expert mission to assess conditions necessary for resuming construction, reflecting efforts to salvage the ambitious project amid Haiti's challenging security landscape.

The visit by Conille and international representatives marks a pivotal moment in Haiti's efforts to reclaim critical infrastructure from gang control, with hopes pinned on restoring medical services essential for the nation's healthcare system.