April 4th 2024.
According to a report by NBC News, amidst the ongoing political turmoil and civil unrest in Haiti, efforts are being made to aid American citizens in escaping the chaotic situation. So far, at least 450 U.S. nationals have been successfully evacuated from the capital city of Port Au Prince since March.
However, not all evacuations have been smooth sailing. There are some Americans who are faced with a difficult decision to make. Erika Charles, an American living in Haiti, shared her dilemma of not wanting to leave behind her Haitian husband and three children. She explained that she has been tirelessly searching for ways to evacuate her entire family, but the main hurdle she faces is that she is the only American citizen in her household. While the U.S. embassy has occasionally organized helicopter evacuations for American citizens, she would have to leave her family behind – something she cannot bring herself to do.
As of the end of March, over 1,600 Americans have reached out to the State Department for assistance in leaving Haiti. In response, the State Department has arranged for private helicopters to transport Americans from Haiti to the neighboring Dominican Republic. However, individuals are responsible for their own transportation from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. and are also required to reimburse the U.S. government for the cost of the helicopter flights. In addition, private organizations like Project Dynamo, an international search-and-rescue non-profit group, have also stepped in to help in the rescue efforts. So far, they have successfully rescued 51 people.
The violence in Haiti first erupted in February when a coalition of armed groups launched an attack against the government led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The group, made up of former members of the military and police, launched attacks on prisons, hospitals, banks, and other government buildings. Despite Henry's agreement to step down on March 12, the violence has persisted. According to the United Nations, 1,500 people have lost their lives due to gang violence in Haiti this year.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
