According to the State Department, the U.S. organized two helicopter airlifts from Port-au-Prince on Wednesday to evacuate over 30 stranded Americans to the Dominican Republic amidst the ongoing surge of gang-led rebellion in Haiti.
In a recent briefing, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel announced that an operation is set to begin in the coming hours. The operation will involve government-chartered helicopters, which will be used to facilitate the evacuation of citizens trapped in the dangerous capital city. Multiple flights will be conducted as part of this operation, with the aim of helping as many people as possible to depart safely.
According to Patel, the frequency at which we can do this greatly depends on the situation on the ground.
According to another official, the State Department has plans to assist around 30 Americans in leaving Afghanistan. They will be facilitating their departure through two helicopter flights each day for the entire mission. Additionally, government personnel will be available in the Dominican Republic to assist these individuals in booking commercial travel back to the United States once they arrive.
However, it is important to note that the department’s ability to sustain the operation of these flights is contingent upon the security situation in Haiti and the availability of commercial charters, as well as the ongoing demand for evacuations.
During Wednesday’s briefing, Patel revealed that nearly 1,600 Americans had contacted the U.S. Embassy in Haiti using the crisis intake form. However, it was noted that not all of them had requested assistance in leaving the country.
Officials say that leaving the country is a difficult task for those who want to escape. The airport in Port-au-Prince is under the control of gangs, making it unsafe for travel. The ongoing conflicts between criminal organizations, the struggling government, and groups of vigilantes have made road travel extremely dangerous.
According to a defense official, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service is collaborating with the Department of Defense to ensure the safety of departing citizens and the helicopter landing zone, which is located in close proximity to the embassy. However, embassy security alerts have consistently advised Americans in Haiti that they are responsible for making their own way to departure points. Individuals have been instructed to assess their own safety before deciding whether to travel.
On Sunday, the United States facilitated a charter flight from Cap-Haïten, a city located in northern Haiti, transporting around 30 Americans to Miami. State Department officials are currently assessing additional means of departure from the area.
Republican politicians and private companies have also taken the initiative to organize their own evacuations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for instance, revealed that his state chartered a flight from Haiti, which safely landed in Orlando late on Wednesday.
There is growing concern that the current state of affairs in the country is worsening. According to UNICEF, the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, while aid groups report that the recent surge in violence has made it impossible to reach those in need.
The Biden administration has recently provided over $50 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti and is relying on a multinational security force led by Kenya to restore stability in the nation.
Kenyan officials have stated that they will only contemplate deploying the force once Haiti appoints a new leader.
An agreement was reached early last week between Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Haitian stakeholders, and Caribbean leaders. The agreement involves the establishment of a transitional council that will be responsible for appointing an interim prime minister.
U.S. officials had initially expected the formation of the council to be completed within 48 hours. However, the council has not yet been established, which has further delayed the possibility of international intervention.
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