The State Department announced on Wednesday that it is coordinating evacuation flights for American citizens in Haiti, where violent gangs have caused chaos. The number of U.S. citizens seeking assistance in Haiti has nearly doubled, prompting the need for swift action.
According to a State Department spokesperson, the U.S. government is facilitating the safe departure of American citizens from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Government-chartered helicopter flights are being organized to transport individuals from Port-au-Prince to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, where U.S. government personnel will offer consular assistance. From Santo Domingo, American citizens will be responsible for their own onward travel to the United States.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of operational security and mentioned that multiple helicopter trips will be made to evacuate as many American citizens as possible. The State Department is also exploring options for future evacuation efforts beyond the current operation.
As per the latest update, the number of Americans who have requested assistance in Haiti by filling out a form on the State Department's website is close to 1,600, a significant increase from the previous count of around 1,000 earlier in the week. The reasons for seeking assistance vary, with some individuals looking for departure options, while others seek guidance on staying safe in the country.
These evacuation efforts follow recent successful operations where American citizens were helped to leave Haiti. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., reported that he assisted in the evacuation of 13 Americans, adding to the 10 individuals who were extracted last week.
