OTTAWA, March 26, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Canada has chartered helicopters to
evacuate a small number of its nationals from Haiti, Foreign Minister Melanie
Joly said Monday, after commercial air links with Port-au-Prince were cut
amid political chaos.

But the day's scheduled flights to the Dominican Republican were ultimately
not able to take off, contrary to earlier government statements that the
evacuations had begun.

"Due to unforeseen weather conditions, today's assisted departures were
postponed and will resume as soon as weather conditions allow it," the
ministry said in a statement late Monday, adding that all passengers "remain
safe" as they await new flights.

About 30 vulnerable Canadians have requested assistance to leave Haiti, out
of a total of around 3,000 currently in the Caribbean nation.

"The Haitian people have been facing a multi-dimensional crisis: a security
crisis, a humanitarian crisis and a political crisis. Gangs are terrorizing
the streets. Women and children are scared of leaving their homes and
corruption is running rampant," Joly told a news conference in Ottawa earlier
in the day.

"And now the gangs have taken the airport, leaving no way to leave Port-au-
Prince without putting families in danger," she said.

"In these circumstances it is important for us to be able to bring Canadians
to safety."

The Dominican Republic offers the quickest escape route, Joly said. She
noted, however, that any Canadians in Haiti wanting to be evacuated must have
a valid passport.

"We're also looking at other options," Joly added, urging Canadians still in
need of help to check her social media accounts or Canada's Global Affairs
website for information.

Port-au-Prince remains subject to street battles that erupted in late
February, part of a wave of gang violence that has prompted the promised
resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

His impending departure, a key demand from armed gangs that aligned to launch
the attacks on the capital, has not lessened the violence.

As the formation of a transitional government drags on, ordinary Haitians are
suffering serious food shortages.