2024-03-21 15:36:25
The U.S. State Department said that in connection with the escalation of violence in Haiti, U.S. helicopters on Wednesday began operating charter flights to evacuate U.S. citizens from the capital Port-au-Prince, with the first flight transporting more than 15 people to the Dominican Republic. reported Reuters.
According to a spokesman for the State Department, the helicopters will enable the evacuation of more than 30 American citizens per day.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced last week that he would resign, but an interim presidential council has yet to be appointed under a plan backed by Caribbean nations and Washington.
Heavily armed groups have taken over much of the capital, and human rights groups and activists have reported mass killings, kidnappings and sexual violence. According to UN estimates, over 360,000 people have been internally displaced.
Vedant Patel, a deputy spokesman for the State Department, said that nearly 1,600 Americans have filled out an online form requesting information about options for leaving Haiti, but that not all of them have requested help in that direction. Some American citizens were looking for general safety information, Patel explained.
On Sunday, Washington organized an evacuation charter flight between the city of Cap Aitien and Miami, Reuters recalls.