More than 170 French people and some 70 Europeans and other foreign nationals were evacuated from Haiti, a country plunged into chaos, aboard French army helicopters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday March 27.
These are people "in a vulnerable situation" who were transferred "on board a vessel of the National Navy which will transport them today to Fort-de-France (in Martinique, Editor's note)", specifies the Quai d’Orsay in a press release.
#Haiti | Review of the organization of special flights (March 27, 2024)
Full declaration ➡️ https://t.co/dcroLA079I pic.twitter.com/ctx5lN6sqU
— France Diplomatie🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo) March 27, 2024
Sunday evening, the ministry announced the establishment of "special flights" while the capital of Haiti is prey to gang violence and commercial air links with Port-au-Prince are interrupted.
The French embassy “fully mobilized”
Some 1,100 French people, including a large number of dual nationals, live in Haiti, according to the ministry. “The French embassy in Port-au-Prince continues to operate and remains fully mobilized in support of the French community there,” said the press release.
Haiti, already the victim of a very serious political and security crisis, has been plagued by renewed violence since the beginning of the month, with several gangs having joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince.
On March 11, Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign. Since then, negotiations have been underway to form transitional authorities.
In the meantime, armed gangs are intensifying their attacks in the Haitian capital.
Canada has also chartered helicopters to evacuate its nationals living in Haiti wishing to leave the country.
Also read: Can the resignation of Ariel Henry remedy the chaos in Haiti?
With AFP
The France 24 summary of the week
invites you to look back at the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 application