Haiti’s Toussaint-Louverture airport reopened after nearly three months of closure due to gang violence, allowing Sunrise Airways to start operating flights out of Port-au-Prince. However, US-based airlines are not expected to resume operations until late May or early June. The violence in Haiti, with attacks on previously peaceful communities and thousands left homeless, has resulted in more than 2,500 people being killed or injured between January and March, a significant increase from the previous year. The US government and nonprofit organizations have evacuated hundreds of citizens, with powerful gangs laying siege to parts of the capital.
The reopening of the airport provided relief to many workers, such as Klav-Dja Raphael, who had been left unemployed for three months due to the closure. While Raphael welcomed her first clients back, there was still an underlying fear of potential attacks resuming. For many workers, the reopening meant a return to employment and a sense of normalcy, despite lingering apprehensions about safety. Darling Antoine, who received a visa to live in the US due to the violence in Haiti, reflected the bittersweet emotions of leaving loved ones behind in search of a safer environment.
Jean Doovenskey, unemployed due to the ongoing violence in Haiti, expressed hope for the future and a belief in a better Haiti. Many like him are seeking opportunities abroad due to the insecurity at home. Haiti’s former Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been locked out of the country since the airport attack and has since resigned, with a transitional presidential council working to find a new leader. In response to the violence, foreign countries like Kenya are preparing to deploy police officers to reinforce security in Haiti, with support expected from nations like the Bahamas, Barbados, and Bangladesh.
Efforts to address the crisis in Haiti involve the deployment of foreign forces to support local security forces in quelling gang violence that has left thousands vulnerable. The reopening of the main airport in Port-au-Prince is a critical step toward addressing the shortage of essential supplies and allowing for the evacuation of those at risk. Amidst the challenges faced by the country, including political instability and increased violence, there is a sense of resilience and hope for a better future among the Haitian people. International support and cooperation are essential in rebuilding a safer and more stable Haiti for its citizens.
