Is it safe to travel to Haiti now amid gang takeover?

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Several international locations are advising their residents in opposition to travelling to Haiti, together with the US, UK, Ireland and Canada as gangs proceed to grasp the nation.

Earlier this month, gangs tried to take Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, positioned in Port-Au-Prince, the nation’s capital and broke into a close-by port providers terminal. Armed males have additionally stormed police stations within the nation and let 1000’s of prisoners unfastened from Haiti’s National Penitentiary.

Ariel Henry, who had been working the nation as prime minister and performing president till he resigned on Tuesday amid worldwide strain, fled the nation to Puerto Rico final week after he was refused entry into the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Dominican air, land and sea borders are closed to travellers.

What is the scenario with airports and ports in Haiti?

Flights usually are not arriving within the nation as one in every of its worldwide airports stays closed following the assaults and a choice made on Monday to kind a transitional authorities after Mr Henry’s resignation. It is unclear if cruise ships plan to proceed stopping within the nation and one worldwide port has been closed.

Typically, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines function flights to the nation however these operations have been suspended. All of the airways have waived change charges for purchasers wanting to go away the nation. It’s not clear when industrial flights might resume.

Two cruise line firms, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises cease in Labadee, a personal resort about six hours away from Port-Au-Prince. It’s not clear if the cruise liners plan to proceed working within the nation below its present political scenario. The Independent has reached out to the businesses for remark.

State of emergency now in place

Haiti has declared a state of emergency via 3 April. A each day curfew is in place within the capital from 6pm to 5am.

In a safety alert launched on Sunday, The US Department of State urged American residents in opposition to travelling to the nation.

“The current security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the assertion learn. “We are aware that there are few or no commercial options to depart Haiti safely at this time. As they become available, we urge US citizens to take advantage of them.”

US residents presently within the nation ought to put together to shelter in place for an prolonged time period and search help from the US embassy in Port-Au-Prince. Citizens ought to notice that the US is unable to facilitate travel in another country.

US army evacuates embassy employees

Over the weekend, US army officers moved to evacuate non-essential personnel from the embassy. The German and EU embassies additionally took comparable measures.

The UK, Irish and Canadian governments are advising their residents in opposition to travelling to Haiti, however anybody within the nation ought to contact their nearest diplomatic missions. The UK has an embassy in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s capital. Meanwhile, Irish residents ought to get in contact with the nation’s embassy in Washington DC.

The Canadian embassy in Port-Au-Prince is closed however residents might name the workplace for emergency help.