Port-au-Prince, Wednesday, June 3, 2026 – Following extremely intense clashes between armed groups in Cité Soleil, which forced Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders -MSF) to evacuate its hospital on May 11, 2026, and temporarily suspend its activities, the organization announces the resumption of its operations as of Monday, June 1. Noting a relative lull in the commune, MSF intends to respond to the significant needs of residents.
In a press release, MSF explains that medical teams had treated more than 40 people wounded by gunfire in less than 12 hours, while a security guard was hit by a stray bullet inside the hospital premises during these events.
More than 800 people fleeing the violence had taken refuge there, causing scenes of panic as gunfire was continuous, the organization continues.
“All our services had to be suspended. The hospital emptied completely, and several bullet impacts are visible on the various buildings,” said Thomas Curbillon, MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti.
“Usually, in the outpatient department of the MSF hospital in Cité Soleil, we welcome an average of 150 patients per day, and the bed occupancy rate regularly exceeds 80%. That gives an idea of the consequences for the population when our activities are interrupted for several weeks.”
The emergency department and the service for survivors of sexual violence are open, MSF announces. After examination and stabilization, patients are referred to other facilities. If conditions permit, the clinic and inpatient services should resume in the coming days, the organization indicates.
Teams are continuing security risk assessments before resuming other activities, the press release reads.
“This is the third time in three years that MSF has been forced to suspend its activities at its Cité Soleil hospital. We call on all parties to the conflict to respect the safety of civilians and healthcare workers, so that we can carry out our work: saving lives.”
In Cité Soleil, where approximately 300,000 people live with extremely limited access to essential services and healthcare, medical needs remain immense, the international organization emphasizes.
MSF has been working in Haiti for 35 years. Last year, its teams provided 129,458 medical consultations, including 12,984 for children under 5, and assisted 2,812 deliveries. They performed 8,469 surgical interventions, treated 4,975 survivors of sexual violence, treated 3,419 people for violence-related injuries, and provided 19,819 physiotherapy sessions.
Reminder of the facts: Thousands of residents, fleeing rare and extremely violent armed clashes in Duvivier and Martial, spent the night of Sunday, May 10 to Monday, May 11, 2026, taking refuge near the SONAPI industrial park. Automatic weapon fire and flames from burning houses plunged the neighborhood into indescribable chaos, forcing women, children, and the elderly to sleep on the ground for lack of shelter.
The violence began on Saturday afternoon and intensified throughout the night from Sunday to Monday. According to consistent testimonies gathered on site, the clashes involve several rival armed groups.
In Duvivier, an attack carried out by heavily armed men, belonging according to local sources to the group led by the gang leader known as Jeff Gwo Lwa, sowed panic. The advance of the assailants toward the Martial neighborhood forced many families to flee hastily.
The situation is all the more complex as the “Chen Mechan” gang, allied with the “Talibans” groups (Jeff Gwo Lwa) and “400 Mawozo” led by an individual known as “Lanmò San Jou” (Death Without a Day), was engaged in a bloody struggle against the rival gang of Pierre 6.
Heavy exchanges of gunfire were reported in several strategic sectors, including Sarthe, Terre-Noire, and on Route 9. Residents describe scenes of war: continuous bursts of gunfire, detonations of heavy weapons, and masked men traveling in pickup trucks.
By Marie Farah Fortuné and Darbouze Figaro
