AP team gets rare access in an intense month of covering the violence in Haiti

By Dánica Coto, Ramón Espinosa, Pierre Luxama, Evens Sanon and Joseph Odelyn

The AP team covering the ongoing violence in Haiti overcame major obstacles, including very limited access for international media, to tell the story of the deteriorating situation on the island over the course of the last three months.

Three months ago, the gangs in Haiti’s capital started a massive attack forcing the closure of key infrastructure, including the main airport. Since then, it has been nearly impossible to get to Port-au-Prince. AP stringers Pierre Luxama, Evens Samon and Joseph Odelyn were wholly responsible for our strong, all-formats coverage.

After weeks of talks, the AP managed to convince the UN and the UNICEF agency to help our reporters to get into Port-au-Prince.  Caribbean correspondent Dánica Coto and Caribbean chief photographer Ramón Espinosa arrived in Cap-Haitien, in northern Haiti where they were flown via helicopter to Port-au-Prince. 

There, they reported on a daily basis capturing the violence from several angles, with the support of our team of stringers.

They got rare access to gang-ridden neighborhoods, hospitals, vodou ceremonies and scoops on international media. 

For dogged, exclusive reporting under extremely challenging conditions, the coverage by Coto, Espinosa, Luxama, Sanon and Odelyn is this week’s Best of AP — First Winner. 

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