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Port-au-Prince, February 13, 2025 – The Hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haïti (HUEH), known as General Hospital, was set on fire Thursday as gang violence continues to grip Haiti. Flames quickly spread through the abandoned facility, highlighting the nation’s worsening healthcare crisis.
Videos on social media show thick smoke rising over Port-au-Prince as fire destroys the hospital. The cause remains unclear, but reports suggest armed gangs may be responsible.
Once Haiti’s largest public hospital, HUEH closed in February 2024 due to escalating attacks. In December 2024, former Health Minister Dickenson Lorthe Bléma attempted to reopen it, but an ambush killed two journalists and a police officer. Bléma was later removed from office and replaced by Sinal Bertrand.
Despite promises from former Prime Minister Garry Conille and presidential advisor Louis Gerald Gilles, no real action was taken to restore the hospital. With Haiti’s healthcare system in collapse, millions remain without medical care.
The HUEH fire is yet another sign of rising gang power and failing state control. Armed groups now control key infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and pharmacies, worsening the crisis.
Authorities have yet to respond or confirm efforts to contain the fire. The loss of the General Hospital is another devastating blow to Haiti’s public health system.
There has been no official response from authorities regarding the cause of the fire or assessment of the extent of the damage. The loss of General Hospital marks yet another devastating blow to Haiti’s public health sector, further deepening the crisis engulfing the nation.
