PIH Statement: Political Violence in Belladère

Partners In Health (PIH) and Zanmi Lasante (ZL) are deeply concerned about the insecurity in Belladère and elsewhere in Haiti and strongly condemn recent acts of violence. Beyond causing pain to our staff and the community we serve, these events have disrupted our ability to provide critical health care services to communities in the Belladère area. We call upon Haitian authorities to maintain security in the region to ensure that the people of Belladère and the surrounding communities have continued, uninterrupted access to health care. Moreover, we urge partisans to respect the neutrality of PIH and ZL in the political process.

Immediately following the publication of the second round legislative elections results late on April 20, violence erupted in Belladère where ZL has worked with the Ministry of Public Health and the local community since 2003. In the early hours of April 21, arson claimed the life of a beloved colleague Phyzeme Isly, who worked to provide health care to the people of the region for nine years. Other ZL staff and their family members were also wounded in the attacks.

In advocating for access to free services for the poorest and most vulnerable communities in Haiti, PIH and ZL work with the Government of Haiti to strengthen the public health care sector, in close partnership with affected communities and other local partners. While we work with democratically-elected officials and their appointed officials of the government, PIH/ZL neither participates in the electoral process, nor affiliates with any political party. Despite the recent acts of violence that have occurred, we remain committed to serving our communities in an impartial manner.

Read a tribute to Phyzeme Isly.