Intense clashes in Cité Soleil had forced MSF to evacuate its hospital on 11 May, and to temporarily suspend its activities. Medical teams had treated more than 40 people with gunshot wounds in less than 12 hours, while a security guard was struck by a stray bullet within the hospital compound. More than 800 people fleeing violence had sought refuge there, causing scenes of panic as gunfire continued.

For three weeks, the hospital was totally empty. All the services including the clinic, emergency room, surgical services and hospitalization were suspended. In this context of insecurity and in a neighborhood where around 300,000 people live in a congested area with very limited access to essential services, access to healthcare is of vital importance.

In Cité Soleil, MSF medical teams carry out an average of one hundred fifty outpatient consultations and thirty emergency consultations every day. On average, bed occupancy rate is around 80% in the 29-bed facility hospital. Hence, the impact of suspending the hospital is very heavy for the population.

After a period of relative calm in Cité Soleil, MSF decided to reopen the emergency department of its hospital on 1 June, along with the unit providing care for survivors of sexual violence. If security conditions are met, the outpatient clinic and inpatient services are expected to resume in the coming days.

It is the third time in three years that MSF has been forced to suspend operations at its hospital in Cité Soleil. We keep calling on all parties to the conflict to respect the safety of civilians and healthcare workers, so that we can do our work: saving lives.