Port-au-Prince, July 30, 2026.- Faced with an unprecedented health distress in Cité Soleil, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced the complete resumption of its activities at the maternity Isaïe Jeanty de Chancerelle. After a forced closure in June due to violent armed clashes that directly targeted the building, the humanitarian organization makes the critical choice to return, in collaboration with the MSPP, to provide 24-hour life-saving care to women and survivors of violence.
Since July 14, the doors of the maternity ward of Isaiah Jeanty are again open day and night. For Diana Manilla Arroyo, head of mission for MSF in Haiti, this reopening was an absolute necessity despite the danger, as the sexual and reproductive health needs are immense in this area. Between January and June this year, the structure had already taken care of 995 births and treated 122 survivors of sexual violence.
On 19 June, the centre had to be evacuated in an emergency. For five consecutive days, Cité Soleil was the scene of confrontations of extreme violence between rival armed groups. The maternity building was directly hit by many lost bullets, forcing medical personnel to flee to save their lives.
Beyond health structures, the whole community pays the price. Evidence gathered in MSF's mobile clinics indicates horrific scenes: families hunted in their homes, burning homes and executed civilians. This gang war is driving thousands of residents to abandon everything they own to try to survive.
As Port-au-Prince sinks into insecurity, access to care becomes an inaccessible luxury. MSF appeals to all parties to the conflict urgently and solemnly: health structures, ambulances, medical personnel and patients must be respected and protected in all circumstances.
W.A.
