The State Department has issued a strong recommendation for all U.S. citizens to leave Haiti due to increasing safety concerns and infrastructure challenges. The current security situation in the country, particularly in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, has greatly deteriorated in recent months. The U.S. Embassy had to temporarily close earlier this month due to widespread gang violence and gunfire on the streets.
In late July, an American nurse and her daughter were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti and held for ransom. They were fortunately released safely after two weeks. As a result of these escalating incidents, the State Department initially issued a “do not travel” notice for Haiti, highlighting the risk of kidnappings, and also instructed nonemergency embassy personnel to evacuate the country.
According to a report from the United Nations, gang violence in Haiti has increased by 28% in the first quarter of 2023. The senior U.N. representative in Port-au-Prince informed the U.N. Security Council earlier this year that gang violence in 2022 had reached unprecedented levels. This surge in gang activity can be attributed to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The extent of the violence has forced approximately 165,000 Haitians to flee their homes, seeking refuge in temporary shelters. To address this crisis, the U.S. has expressed support for a United Nations plan that involves deploying a multinational police force, led by Kenya, to combat gang violence primarily in Port-au-Prince.
It is crucial for U.S. citizens in Haiti to follow the State Department’s advisory and make arrangements to leave the country as soon as possible, utilizing commercial or private transport.
Source: [The Hill](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/649cbf30ec96a6.86406405.jpeg?w=900)
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