December 23, 2024
In yet another violent escalation in Port-au-Prince, the convent and hospital of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, have been ruthlessly attacked. On the night of October 26, an armed group vandalized the site and set it ablaze. This iconic establishment, which provided medical care and food assistance to nearly 30,000 people each year, had so far been spared from the wave of violence. No injuries were reported among the nuns, who had been warned by the police in late September about escalating conflicts in the area.
According to local witnesses, the attackers destroyed walls, looted medical equipment, beds, and supplies before leaving. Some of the stolen items are reportedly already circulating on the black market in the capital. This assault marks a turning point, as gangs had until now generally spared such centers of public assistance. The gang leader known as “Barbecue,” who is believed to have orchestrated the raid, is notorious for his growing disdain for both authorities and the general public.
The deteriorating security in Bas Delmas, where the convent is located, had already forced many residents to flee over the past few months. The sisters have temporarily sought shelter in another Missionaries of Charity community in Haiti. For the first time in decades, they were compelled to leave what had been a place of solace for the most destitute.
Founded in 1979 by Mother Teresa after witnessing the neglect of patients at the general hospital, this center was established to alleviate the suffering of Haitians. As the country plunges deeper into chaos, this direct assault on a symbol of peace and humanitarian aid could gravely undermine the sisters’ mission in Haiti.