US citizens fleeing Haiti gang violence land in Miami

The U.S. State Department’s first charter flight from Haiti, carrying over 30 Americans fleeing escalating gang violence, landed in Miami on Sunday. This evacuation comes in the wake of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti’s urgent recommendation for Americans to depart from the country, which is currently grappling with severe gang violence and a vacuum of leadership, culminating in the closure of its main airport.

The U.S. State Department is urging American citizens to leave Haiti due to recent gang violence and advises those wishing to depart to contact them through their website.

As of Sunday, March 17, the number of U.S. citizens in Haiti seeking a charter flight and the total remaining in the country were unclear.

In an effort to assist its citizens, the U.S. arranged for a limited number of charter flights from the northern city of Cap-Haitien, less impacted by the unrest. However, officials emphasized that Americans needed to make their own way to the airport for evacuation.

Upon arrival in Miami, government officials have begun assisting the evacuees with their immediate planning and next steps.

A State Department spokesperson highlighted the “fluid and quickly evolving situation” in Haiti, noting, “U.S. citizens are not required to register their travel to a foreign country with us, so we cannot accurately track how many U.S. citizens are in any particular country.”

In a related move to ensure the safety of its diplomatic missions, the U.S. military has recently increased its presence to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, reflecting ongoing concerns about the stability in the region.