Haiti: US advises Americans against travel /update 4

Event

On Tuesday, July 10, the US Embassy began voluntary evacuations of non-essential personnel from Haiti, one day after issuing a travel warning July 9 urging American citizens to avoid travel to Haiti in light of frequent and unpredictable civil unrest and crime. US diplomatic authorities have stated that they have limited capacity to provide emergency services to US citizens at this time. Other western nations have issued similar warnings due to recent events, including Canada, which has advised nationals against all travel to Haiti, and France, which currently advises against all non-essential travel.

Context

Violent protests broke out in recent days, leaving at least four people dead. The violence erupted in response to now-scrapped plans by the Haitian government to raise the prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene by up to 50 percent; the situation escalated as protesters called for the immediate departure of President Jovenel Moïse.

All protests in Haiti, even smaller ones, have the potential to disrupt daily life as they often involve roadblocks and/or violence. Further protests, roadblocks, and affiliated violence to denounce the now-canceled increase in fuel prices and demand the president's resignation are possible in the coming days.

Advice

Individuals in Haiti are advised to monitor the situation and strictly avoid all protests and associated roadblocks due to the likelihood of violence. Confirm flight reservations before traveling to the airport and contact your airline for more information. Monitor updates from your respective embassy for possible adjustments to operating hours.