Haiti hospital cares for children amid gang violence, hunger and scarce aid

Marie Michelle Joseph's nine-month-old daughter is weak and has a persistent fever. Key points: The Fontaine Hospital is located in Cite Soleil where gangs have been fighting a vicious turf war The hospital is an important employer for young people who have few alternatives besides joining gangs It is funded by UNICEF in an area food producers struggle to move product to After being turned away from Haiti's only general hospital, her daughter Myleisha was finally accepted at Fontaine Hospital, a UNICEF- "I'm the only one by her side," the 27-year-old mother said. The Fontaine Hospital is located in the Cite Soleil neighbourhood, where the G9 and G-Pep gangs have been fighting a vicious turf war. "We are in one of the poorest areas of the country, and also one of the most dangerous," hospital founder Jose Ulysse said. But the WFP said last month it had been forced to slash its July emergency food assistance to the country by 25 per cent compared to the previous month due to dwindling funds, while in June UNICEF said it had received only 15 per cent of the funds it needs for Haiti operations this year.