Haiti - FLASH : The country maintained on maximum alert «Do not travel to Haiti»

Haiti - Justice : 1,425 Haitians are detained in Dominican prisons

iciHaiti - Gold Cup 2025 : Important information and calendar

iciHaiti - Dom. Rep. : Working group on the reception and care of thousands of deported Haitians

iciHaiti - League of Nations : Our Grenadiers in Aruba have started their preparation

iciHaiti - Artibonite : Intensification of PNH operations (Video)

more news

Haiti - News : Zapping...

Haiti - Contraception : Achievements, but much remains to be done

Haiti - Politic : Why is Haiti seeking a partnership with the United Arab Emirates?

Haiti - FLASH : The partial death toll from the Pont-Sondé massacre now stands at 115

Haiti - Economy : All the details on the 2024-2025 budget

more news

Haiti - FLASH : The country maintained on maximum alert «Do not travel to Haiti»
20/09/2024 10:46:59

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel warnings to reflect additional crime information and for the 4th consecutive year, has decided to maintain Haiti at High Alert Level 4 : "Do not travel to Haiti" for the 4th consecutive year, due to kidnappings, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.

Country Summary :
Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. 

Protests, demonstrations, and roadblocks are common and unpredictable. They often damage or destroy infrastructure and can become violent. Mob killings and assaults by the public have increased, including targeting those suspected of committing crimes.

The airport in Port-au-Prince can be a focal point for armed activity. Armed robberies are common. Carjackers attack private vehicles stuck in traffic. They often target lone drivers, especially women. As a result, the U.S. embassy requires its staff to use official transportation to and from the airport.

Do not cross the border by land between Haiti and the Dominican Republic due to the threat of kidnapping and violence. These dangers are present on roads from major Haitian cities to the border. The U.S. embassy cannot help you enter the Dominican Republic by air, land, or sea.  U.S. citizens who cross into the Dominican Republic at an unofficial crossing may face high immigration fines if they try to leave. The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution.

The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti. Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine, and medical supplies are common throughout the country. Public and private medical clinics and hospitals often lack trained staff and basic resources. In addition, they require prepayment for services in cash.

If you decide to travel to Haiti anyway :

Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks. 
Arrange airport transfers and hotels in advance, or have your host meet you upon arrival. 
Do not give personal information to unauthorized people to include those without uniforms or credentials. Individuals with bad intent may frequent areas at the airport, including near immigration and customs. 
If you are being followed as you leave the airport, drive to the nearest police station immediately. 
Travel by vehicle to reduce walking in public. 
Travel in groups or at least do not travel alone. 
Always keep vehicle doors locked and windows closed when driving. 
Be cautious and alert. This is especially important when driving through markets and other crowded areas. 
Do not fight back during a robbery. It increases the risk of violence and injury to you. 
Purchase travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage ahead of time. 
Review information on Travel to High-Risk Areas. 
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. 
Review the Country Security Report on Haiti.

HL/ HaitLibre