Washington, US.- The United States Government is set to evacuate a portion of its citizens from Haiti this Wednesday via helicopter flights from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic.
Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesman, stated in a press conference that they anticipate the helicopters to make multiple trips to reach as many American citizens as possible throughout the day. However, he noted that the government would assess whether to conduct additional flights in the coming days. Once in Santo Domingo, the evacuated individuals will be responsible for arranging their return to the United States.
Patel mentioned that approximately 1,600 Americans in Haiti have contacted their government, but not all have requested evacuation or are situated in locations accessible by helicopters.
Regarding the safety concerns associated with helicopter operations, Patel reassured that the US would not proceed with the operation if it deemed it unsafe. He emphasized the experience and capability of the operation to be executed successfully.
“The ground situation is pivotal in determining the frequency of these operations,” Patel explained. Currently, various embassies and international organizations are working to reduce and evacuate their personnel from Haiti due to the surge in violence by armed gangs since late February.
Source: EFE