In a shocking incident on Wednesday, a heavily armed gang stormed into the Fontaine Hospital Center in the Cite Soleil slum of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, seizing women, children, and newborns as hostages. The hospital, considered a lifeline in a community plagued by gang violence, has become the latest target in the escalating conflict.
The culprits were identified as members of the Brooklyn gang, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, also known as “Ti Gabriel.” Jean-Pierre is the leader of the formidable gang alliance G-Pep, one of the rival coalitions exerting influence in Haiti. The Brooklyn gang, with around 200 members, controls specific areas within Cite Soleil, engaging in activities such as extortion, goods hijacking, and violence against civilians, according to a recent U.N. report.
The report highlighted the strengthening cooperation among gangs, particularly within the G-Pep coalition, which has diversified its revenue streams through activities like kidnapping for ransom. This has bolstered their capacity for conflict, intensifying the already dire situation in the region.
This incident follows a concerning trend of escalating violence and criminal activities by gangs in Haiti, a situation that has worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Gangs have become increasingly powerful, leading to a surge in kidnappings and killings across the country.
Earlier this year, in a similarly brazen act, at least 20 armed gang members infiltrated a hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders, seizing a patient from an operating room. The criminals exploited a fake life-threatening emergency to gain access to the facility,further underscoring the challenges posed by the growing influence of gangs on essential institutions.