Healthcare Crisis in Haiti's Capital as Key Emergency Center Shuts Down
The escalating surge of violence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, has led to the permanent closure of a major emergency care center that was once a crucial lifeline for the city's residents, now 90% under the control of criminal gangs.
Violence Leads to Healthcare Closures
Over 60% of the city's healthcare facilities have either ceased operations or are no longer functional due to the increasing gang violence. The general hospital of Haiti is among those that have been forced to shut down, leaving thousands of citizens without access to necessary medical care.
The Impact on the Emergency Care Center
The vital emergency care center in the Turgeau neighborhood temporarily ceased operations back in 2025 after an alarming incident where armed individuals attacked four vehicles transporting staff from the center. Some of the employees suffered minor injuries in the attack.
The center's building, located near the areas of frequent conflict, has been struck by stray bullets on multiple occasions. This has raised serious concerns about the safety of both patients and healthcare workers, leading to the decision to shut down operations permanently.
Crucial Lifeline in a Health Crisis
Before the violent incident in March, the emergency center had provided treatment to over 300 patients within a week. In February alone, the center saw over 2,500 medical consultations, highlighting its pivotal role in the healthcare system of the city.
Initially established in the Martissant neighborhood of Port-au-Prince in 2006, the emergency center had to relocate to Turgeau in 2021 due to escalating security issues. From 2021 to March 2025, the center provided treatment to over 100,000 patients, demonstrating its vital importance to the community.
The Rising Toll of Violence
Violence in Haiti is on the rise, with over 3,100 people reportedly killed and an additional 1,100 injured between January and June of an unspecified year. This increasing unrest has also led to significant displacement within the population.
Record-breaking numbers of people have been forced to flee their homes due to gang violence, with approximately 1.4 million people displaced - a shocking 36% increase from the previous year. The majority of these displacements are happening outside of Port-au-Prince, particularly in Haiti’s central region.
Shelter Crisis
As a result of the mass displacement caused by the violence, the number of makeshift shelters in the country has seen a significant increase. The number of these temporary shelters has risen from 142 in December of an unspecified year to 238 later in the same year, further highlighting the severity of the crisis.