Amid the escalating crisis in Haiti, the United States has been actively involved in evacuating its citizens from the troubled nation. A recent development saw a plane carrying 21 Americans arriving in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday night, marking the latest in a series of US-chartered flights from Haiti.
Florida's Division of Emergency Management confirmed the safe arrival of the Americans and highlighted that a total of 35 individuals have been rescued through state-coordinated emergency flights so far. Those who landed in Orlando were provided with essential resources such as meals, water, lodging, transportation, basic health screenings, phones, and ID replacement services.
Executive Director Kevin Guthrie emphasized the relentless efforts being made to bring residents back home, following Governor Ron DeSantis's directive to address all challenges until the mission is accomplished. DeSantis had declared a state of emergency in Florida on March 15 to facilitate the evacuation process after receiving numerous distress calls from stranded Floridians in Haiti.
The State Department revealed that nearly 1,000 US citizens have expressed their desire to either leave Haiti or seek assistance from US officials. Federal and state authorities have been coordinating evacuation flights, with the first Florida-organized flight bringing 14 individuals to Orlando Sanford International Airport last week.
As conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate due to widespread gang violence and political instability, the situation in the capital, Port-au-Prince, has become dire. Criminal groups have disrupted essential supplies, leaving residents stranded in their homes amidst urban warfare between gangs and the national police.
While a select few have the means to charter private evacuation helicopters, the majority of Haitians are unable to leave the conflict-ridden areas. The United Nations is working to establish an air bridge between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to deliver crucial supplies to the city.
The evacuation efforts are ongoing, with both state and federal agencies working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of Americans caught in the midst of the turmoil in Haiti.
