Haiti: 243 people evacuated to Martinique, the majority of whom are French

New evacuations have taken place on the Caribbean island plagued by chaos and violence. The French government has set up special flights to allow French nationals to leave Haiti, after the suspension of commercial air links with the country.

The national palace in Port-au-Prince, Monday March 25, 2024. AP - Odelyn Joseph

By: RFI with AFP

Advertisement

Read more

A group of 243 people, including 163 French nationals, was able to leave Haiti, where they were blocked by violent anti-government demonstrations, and is expected this Friday in Martinique, said the prefect of this French department in the Caribbean. Three vessels from the National Navy are expected in Fort-de-France, the prefect of Martinique and the senior commander of the Armed Forces in the Antilles said Thursday during a press conference.

On board are 243 people, including 163 French and 80 foreigners, half of whom are nationals of European Union countries, according to the prefect of Martinique Jean-Christophe Bouvier. “

French nationals will be offered an immediate return to France

,” assured the prefect, adding that they “

will be able to benefit from a flight chartered by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs the same day

,” he said. added Jean-Christophe Bouvier.

The prefecture has also specified that foreign nationals requiring administrative regularization of their visas will spend one night in Martinique before possible departure from the territory.

Several groups of French nationals have been evacuated

in recent days.

Gangs

Haiti, already the victim of a very serious political and security crisis, has been plagued by renewed violence since the beginning of March, with several gangs having joined forces to attack strategic locations in Port-au-Prince.

On Sunday evening, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the establishment

of “special flights

”. “

French nationals who wished to benefit from the special flights set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Armed Forces were able to board French helicopters to join a national navy vessel which will transport them to Fort-de-France soon.

“, a diplomatic source told AFP. "

206 transfers were made by helicopter to

Tonnerre

[a helicopter carrier, Editor's note] [...] between March 24 and 26 from [...] Port-au-Prince

", detailed Thursday Nicolas Lambropoulos, senior commander of the Armed Forces in the West Indies.

Some 1,100 French people, including a large number of dual nationals, live in Haiti, according to figures from the Quai d'Orsay.

Benin ready to send 2,000 soldiers to Haiti

Benin maintains its plan to participate in the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti (MMSS). The latest political developments change nothing. The country will deploy 2,000 soldiers to help the Haitian police fight armed gangs in the country, according to information from our correspondent in Benin,

Jean-Luc Aplogan

. 

In Cotonou, we initially spoke of 1,500 people. The personnel come from the air, land, sea and national guard forces. The soldiers who will leave have already been identified, they still have one last filter to pass, certainly a small investigation on each of them. They will then be trained by Beninese and foreign instructors.

Some sources believe that the Beninese could be ready to leave within three or four months. A little too optimistic as a timetable, according to those accustomed to operations of this type. Consideration must be given to financing and the timing of initial disbursements of funds. The United States and Canada are the major supporters.

Meetings are announced in the coming weeks. Benin has always contributed with its police and gendarmes to security missions in Haiti out of solidarity but also because of historical and cultural ties. An observer also sees a diplomatic benefit for Benin.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your inbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Share :

Continue reading on the same themes:

  • Haiti

  • France

  • Benign

  • Humanitarian

  • Diplomacy

  • Defense

  • Crime