While Haiti has been considered a hotbed of social unrest for decades, many Haitians are now reporting that the island nation is on the brink of explosion – and this has international travelers and workers in Haiti struggling to escape the violence.
Most flights into and out of Haiti have been canceled due to attacks on the airport, raising concerns that departing from the country may soon be impossible. The increasing demand for flights is reportedly placing a strain on neighboring airports in the region as Haitian-bound flights seek other options.
Travelers and tourists with plans to visit the surrounding Caribbean nations should be prepared for potential problems with accessing flights due to increased air traffic demands placed on airports near Haiti during the ongoing uprisings.
The escalation in violence also has Haiti’s island neighbors on alert. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is on a heightened military alert and is increasing its land border security. In 2023, the Dominican Republic deported tens of thousands of Haitians back across the border, and a border fence is presently under construction.
The Bahamas has canceled flights into Haiti, stating that flights will be impacted for at least two weeks. The Bahamian government has also recalled its non-essential embassy personnel back to New Providence amidst reports that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is facing attacks on his Haitian government.
Turks and Caicos Islands, which lie only 190 miles from Haiti, are also taking steps to safeguard their borders due to the heightened tensions in the region. Tourists within Turks and Caicos are not currently anticipated to experience any increased risk apart from potential flight delays.
Frequent attacks on the airport in the Haitian-captured Port-au-Prince have also added to the difficulties, forcing frequent airport closures. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has been on limited operations for most of this uprising, primarily providing essential services and safety updates.
The U.S. Department of State is advising its citizens to leave Haiti as soon as possible due to the escalated violence and prison breaks in recent days. A previous do not travel advisory has now been escalated to a ‘depart immediately’ description. Haiti has been given a ‘depart immediately’ advisory until further notice.
However, the surge in gang violence and social unrest has brought about a broad range of new challenges for those trying to leave Haiti. In less than one week, more than 15,000 people are estimated to have fled the gunfire in the capital. Some Americans have chosen to stay put in Haiti, saying they can either not leave or feel the risk of attempting to leave is too high.
While the situation in Haiti remains unstable, authorities advise closely monitoring any travel advisories or flight cancellations in Haiti and the surrounding area. Suppose you plan to travel to the Dominican Republic during the ongoing crisis in Haiti. In that case, experts advise checking with the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic for updated travel and emergency information.
