The Canadian Press/ Justin Tang
Canada conducted an evacuation operation, airlifting 18 vulnerable Canadian citizens out of Haiti via helicopter to the neighboring Dominican Republic on Monday. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that more opportunities for evacuation would be offered to Canadians in the coming days.
Haiti has been engulfed in a severe security crisis since mid-2021, marked by gangs seizing control of critical infrastructure and engaging in violent turf battles, leading to the collapse of essential services like healthcare and food systems.
Minister Joly described the dire situation in Haiti, with rampant gang terror on the streets, instilling fear among women and children, hindering their mobility.
Tensions heightened earlier this month when Haiti's unelected Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, traveled to Kenya to finalize plans for an international military intervention led by Kenyan police. In response, gangs in Haiti escalated violence, freeing violent prisoners and seizing control of the international airport in Port-au-Prince, preventing Henry's return. Additionally, the Dominican Republic, Haiti's neighboring country, denied entry to Henry.
Recently, under pressure, Henry agreed to resign once a transitional council is established to oversee the intervention.
Despite Canada's advisory against traveling to Haiti for the past two years, the government initiated the evacuation operation due to the cancellation of all commercial flights and the airport's dysfunctional state.
Minister Joly emphasized that the evacuation is exclusive to Canadian citizens holding valid passports due to stringent eligibility criteria in the Dominican Republic. However, permanent residents, Canadians without valid passports, and foreign family members of Canadians are ineligible for airlifting. The government is exploring alternative solutions for their evacuation.
The helicopter evacuation will be provided at no charge, but individuals are responsible for covering their accommodation costs in the Dominican Republic and their return travel to Canada, facilitated through loans provided by Ottawa.
Approximately 3,000 Canadians are registered as remaining in Haiti, with fewer than 300 requesting assistance to leave, including permanent residents and relatives of Canadians. Among them, less than 100 Canadian citizens with valid passports have sought assistance, with only about 30 expressing readiness to travel.
Priority is given to the most vulnerable Canadians, such as those with medical conditions or children, in the evacuation process. Evacuations are conducted from designated "green zones," identified as safe locations in Haiti. Minister Joly noted that some Canadians might be hesitant to immediately evacuate, fearing the risk of danger reaching the airlift points.
Earlier this month, Canada evacuated most of its diplomats from the embassy in Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic due to the deteriorating security situation. However, Ambassador André François Giroux will remain in Haiti, and embassy staff can still provide emergency travel documents to Canadians in need.
Canada is committed to assisting Haitians during the crisis, emphasizing the importance of Haitians leading the way in finding solutions to their challenges. The government has deployed diplomatic and consular staff to aid in the evacuation efforts and continues to monitor the situation closely.
