Haiti's Prime Minister hospitalized after suffering an asthma attack

Haiti’s new prime minister, Garry Conille, was rushed to hospital after suffering a respiratory emergency on Saturday night, a government source said.

“He had an asthma attack. He has doctors by his side,” that source said on condition of anonymity, adding that it is possible that the official will be evacuated abroad for treatment.

Before this medical incident, the prime minister had visited the international airport in the capital Port-au-Prince, where he praised the work of the security forces, which allowed flights to resume after more than three months paralyzed by attacks by criminal gangs.

Conille, 58, was named prime minister by Haiti’s transitional presidential council on May 29 and was sworn in on Monday.

A doctor by training, he was prime minister of Haiti for a brief period, between 2011 and 2012, and until recently he was regional director of Unicef.

Since his appointment, the official has held a series of meetings with different sectors and representatives of Haitian society, while working with the council to form a cabinet.

This transitional body was created after the resignation in March of Prime Minister Ariel Henry due to the resurgence of gang violence.

In late February, gangs launched coordinated attacks on strategic locations in Port-au-Prince, claiming they wanted to drive out Henry.

According to the authorities, 80% of the capital is in the hands of these gangs, accused of numerous abuses, including murders, rapes, looting and kidnappings.