Haiti: the United States embassy evacuates part of its staff
The United States is evacuating part of its consular staff in Haiti, while strengthening the security of its embassy.
All this while the island continues to descend into violence.
United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, July 9, 2021. AP - Fernando Llano
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The operation took place in the middle of the night at the request of the State Department.
US military helicopters evacuated non-essential staff from the US Embassy in Port-Au-Prince.
An operation which, according to a press release from the American army, is part of the procedures planned to strengthen the security of embassies, reports our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki
.
“
Increased gang violence in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy and airport has led the State Department to make arrangements to allow the departure of additional embassy personnel
,” it said. Sunday the embassy on X (formerly Twitter).
The press release specifies that the embassy remains open and operational.
The surrounding security system has nevertheless been reinforced.
This evacuation comes after Washington called, a few days ago, on its nationals to leave Haiti.
All this, while Port-Au-Prince is the scene of clashes between the police and armed gangs, who
are demanding the resignation of Ariel Henry
.
The Haitian Prime Minister is still stuck outside the country.
“
A city under siege »
The capital of Haiti, scene of clashes between police and armed gangs, is "
a city in a state of siege
", warned Philippe Branchat, the head for Haiti of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Saturday.
“
The residents of the capital live locked up, they have nowhere to go
,” he describes.
The criminal gangs, who control most of the capital as well as the roads leading to the rest of the territory, have been attacking police stations, prisons and courts for several days, in the absence of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whose release they are demanding. resignation just like part of the population.
The United States has recently said it is very concerned about the situation there, but it has ruled out sending any military force for the moment.
Also read: United States: no troops planned in Haiti, but an international force under the aegis of Kenya
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