In a context of extreme violence, where coordinated attacks by armed groups are increasing in several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince that were previously beyond their control, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is warning of the risk of saturation of its trauma hospital located in Tabarre, one of the last in the capital. For residents, whose access to surgical care is already significantly reduced, the consequences would be dramatic.

Under pressure since February, the MSF hospital in Tabarre has already increased its capacity by 50%. It is now at the limit of saturation due to the growing number of seriously injured patients requiring treatment. While the hospital officially has 50 trauma beds, the unit regularly receives more than 70 patients. "Beyond the limit of 75 patients, it will be impossible to accept new cases."

"The number of seriously injured has been steadily increasing over the past four weeks. Nearly 40% of them are women and children,” worries Dr. Seybou Diarra, Coordinator of the MSF hospital in Tabarre. "We are already overloaded and we can't expand the walls. We are reduced to creating hospital rooms in meeting rooms. The medical teams are exhausted, and the intensification of violence around the facility complicates our activities since we are located next to areas regularly attacked, with a high risk of stray bullets."

Plagued by political instability for years and facing an alarming humanitarian situation, Haiti has suffered a new surge in violence since mid-February as armed groups, united under a single coalition, attempt to increase their control of Port-au-Prince. The fighting is intensifying, and the front lines are shifting, encroaching on the last neighborhoods of the capital that are beyond their control.

HL/ HaitiLibre