(RightIsRight.co) – Following days of chaos and terror after criminal gangs swiftly took over the country in a surprise operation, the U.S. Embassy announced plans for a charter flight to evacuate American citizens from Haiti amid the ongoing violence that has gripped the nation.
This development follows the U.S. government’s previous decision to airlift non-essential American embassy staff from Port-au-Prince and increase security personnel at the embassy compound.
Through a security alert on its website the embassy stated, “We are arranging a charter flight for U.S. citizens from Cap-Haitien to the United States, assuming the security situation in Cap-Haitien remains stable.” It also highlighted the Cap-Haitien airport’s operational status, which occasionally opens for departures.
This evacuation effort is scheduled to take off from Cap-Haitien, Haiti’s second-largest city, since the primary airport in the capital city of Port-au-Prince has ceased working due to the current crisis.
While both the exact date of the evacuation flight and the total number of Americans eligible for evacuation remain unconfirmed, the embassy cautioned U.S. citizens about the dangerous 120-mile journey from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haitien. It advised considering the flight “only if you believe you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.”
The last two weeks in Haiti have seen gangs carrying out violent disturbances to put pressure on Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign since they see his leadership as lacking in popular and electoral legitimacy.
In response to these challenges and following a critical meeting with international stakeholders, including the U.S., the U.N. and representatives from Caribbean nations, Henry agreed to resign. This meeting laid the groundwork to establish a Transitional Presidential Council to govern until fresh elections become possible.
Additionally, the international response to Haiti’s escalating crisis has seen several countries and the European Union evacuate their diplomatic staff, with the United Nations also relocating non-essential personnel.
Furthermore, the U.N. mission in Haiti disclosed its initiative to establish an “airbridge” from the neighboring Dominican Republic in an effort to get aid into Haiti.
In a related development, Haitian authorities reported that police had seized weapons and dismantled roadblocks in a sector of Port-au-Prince under the control of the infamous gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier. The operation resulted in the killings of several gang members.
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