At least 450 U.S. nationals have been evacuated from Haiti since last month due to the ongoing political turmoil and violence, but those who remain are struggling to leave, causing desperation among their relatives in the U.S. The U.S. State Department and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been working to airlift more Americans out of Haiti, with over 1,600 Americans requesting help fleeing the country as of the end of March. Erika Childs Charles, a 42-year-old mother of three living in Haiti, has tried to find ways to evacuate her family, but faces challenges due to the adoption process for her twin daughters. The situation in Haiti escalated in late February when armed groups attacked the government, leading to further violence and chaos.
Concerns for the safety of foreigners in Haiti have increased as the country descends into lawlessness, with armed groups controlling much of the capital. The U.S. and Caricom have pledged to assist in forming a transitional government, but the plan has yet to come to fruition. Many Americans are stuck in Haiti, unable to leave due to the closure of the airport by armed groups, making evacuation efforts difficult. Michèle-Jessica Fièvre, a Haitian-American living in Florida, anxiously waits for news from her 12 relatives in Haiti, including two American citizens who refuse to leave their native family members behind. The situation in Haiti has led to widespread violence, looting, and destruction of essential services.
As the situation in Haiti worsens, organizations like Project Dynamo have been coordinating rescues for Americans in the country. Project Dynamo has received over 100 pleas for help from Americans in Haiti and has rescued dozens of people from Port-au-Prince using helicopters. With armed groups escalating violence after the failure to hold elections and the postponement of elections to 2025, the conflict is taking a toll on the Haitian people. More than 8,400 Haitians were killed, injured, or kidnapped in 2023, and the country is still recovering from past disasters such as the earthquake in 2010 and 2021.
The Tennant family from Indiana has been trying to bring their adopted sons from Haiti to the U.S., but the adoption process has been complicated by the turmoil in Haiti. With the adoption finalized, they are hoping the State Department will help expedite the necessary documents for the children to come to their new home. The Tennants’ sons have described hearing gunfire and hiding under their beds, showcasing the urgency and danger of the situation in Haiti. As the crisis continues to unfold, many Americans in Haiti are facing life-threatening situations and are in desperate need of assistance to evacuate and return to safety.
In the midst of the chaos and violence in Haiti, American citizens like Erika Childs Charles and Michèle-Jessica Fièvre are struggling to find ways to bring their families back to safety. The U.S. government and organizations like Project Dynamo are working to assist Americans in Haiti, but the challenges remain significant. The ongoing political turmoil and violence in Haiti have left many Americans stranded and at risk, with concerns growing for the safety and well-being of those who are unable to evacuate. As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the need for urgent action and assistance for Americans in the country becomes increasingly critical.
