SCRIPT ENG :

TEXT : Brooklyn is a neighborhood in the slum of Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince. Previously caught in a turf war between rival armed groups, it has been experiencing a quieter phase for some time, although occasional clashes between armed groups and the police still occur. Access to healthcare remains a major challenge for the people of Brooklyn.

Géralda Désir
Brooklyn resident
‘Life here is hard. Before, it was the war. I ran a small business to survive, but now I have nothing. ‘
Elmondo Odans

MSF Doctor
‘Brooklyn is completely abandoned and isolated. No roads, no electricity, no clean water.’

Géralda Désir
Brooklyn resident
‘We drink salty water. It's the water we use to clean ourselves. It makes me itchy.’

Alcélia René
Brooklyn resident
‘There’s a latrine nearby. Sometimes it overflows. We used to clean it, but it hasn’t been cleaned in a long time. Mostly, people use the ditches for [their needs].’

TEXT: The piling up of waste, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water contribute to the spread of skin and waterborne diseases.

TEXT: MSF is the only permanent organization in the area and opened a health center in July 2022, following the closure of the only public hospital in the community.
Elmondo Odans

MSF Doctor
‘Imagine a community where no hospitals are functioning.
We have a dressing room, we have an observation room. Often, when there are clashes, we turn it into an emergency room.
We have also had several cholera outbreaks.
We also manage deliveries. They’re not many, but we sometimes step in because complications often arise for pregnant women who rely on traditional midwives.’

TEXT: In 2024, MSF treated over 11,000 patients in this neighborhood alone, including 2,500 children under five years old.