Canada will offer an additional evacuation flight out of Haiti due to a surge in requests to leave the country. The federal government had planned to wind down its evacuation efforts, but an influx of last-minute requests prompted them to organize one more flight. This decision was made as Haiti faces ongoing challenges such as gang violence, food shortages, and lack of medical supplies. The government-organized flight that departed on Sunday was expected to be the last of three, as Canada had been deeply involved in supporting Haiti through various initiatives in recent years.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized Canada’s commitment to assisting vulnerable Canadians in Haiti amid the challenging circumstances in the country. He noted that Canada had been actively involved in supporting the Haitian national police, diplomatic efforts for democratic stability in Haiti, and providing evacuation assistance to those in need. Trudeau expressed the government’s intention to continue supporting people in Haiti and to ensure that they receive the help they require. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also confirmed the decision to schedule an additional evacuation flight to accommodate those who missed the last scheduled flight.
Joly’s department had been closely monitoring requests for help and initially decided that no further flights would be necessary. However, the sudden influx of requests prompted the government to organize one more flight to ensure that all Canadians who wished to leave Haiti could do so safely. The evacuation process involved using helicopters to transport individuals from Port-au-Prince to an undisclosed location, from where they would be chartered to Montreal. The previous evacuation efforts included airlifting people by helicopter to the Dominican Republic, with only Canadian passport holders eligible for the trip.
Global Affairs Canada reported that they had assisted over 250 Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their close relatives in leaving Haiti. Those who traveled to Montreal were required to pay the equivalent of a commercial fare, while those brought to the Dominican Republic had to cover their own accommodation and return flights. Global Affairs provided support as needed to ensure the safe evacuation of Canadians from Haiti. The additional evacuation flight organized by the Canadian government aimed to address the increasing demand for evacuation and ensure the safety and well-being of Canadians in Haiti during this challenging time.
