More than 30 U.S. nationals were evacuated from Haiti, plunged into chaos by gang violence, aboard a government-chartered charter flight and landed in Florida on Sunday, the State Department said. of American Foreign Affairs.
The plane took off from the country's second city, Cap-Haitien, where the airport is open
"periodically"
, according to the American embassy.
“The State Department facilitated the safe departure from Cap-Haïtien of more than 30 American citizens aboard a US government charter flight
,” a State Department spokesperson announced to AFP Sunday night.
“The passengers are now safe in Miami, Florida, where U.S. government officials are assisting them with next steps
. ”
Several other countries and the European Union have also evacuated their diplomatic staff due to the instability on the island, with the UN having evacuated its non-essential staff.
For Americans remaining in Haiti, the State Department
is “studying the possibilities of departure outside (the capital) Port-au-Prince and will inform American nationals as soon as we are able to organize them in a secure manner”
, a said the spokesperson.
Read alsoHaiti: after the resignation of the Prime Minister, the country suspended from gang reaction
“We will continue to assist U.S. citizens as long as commercial options remain unavailable and the security environment allows us to do so
,” he added.
Port-au-Prince has been the scene of an outbreak of violence by criminal gangs in recent weeks, while Haitians await the establishment of a presidential transitional council following the announcement of the resignation of contested Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The gangs control entire swaths of the country, including 80% of the capital, and are accused of numerous abuses, in particular murders, rapes, and kidnappings for ransom.