US Embassy in Haiti says Americans should leave island 'as soon as possible'

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti advised all U.S. citizens in the island nation to leave the country "as soon as possible" due to the region's deteriorating security situation.

"Given the current security situation and infrastructure challenges, U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible via commercial or private transport," the embassy said Wednesday. "Flights fill up quickly and seats may only be available several days or even weeks in advance of departure."

The State Department has been telling U.S. citizens to not travel to Haiti over the risk of kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and poor health care infrastructure. The agency in July ordered all non-emergency U.S. government employees and the families of all other U.S. government employees to evacuate the country.

Haiti has struggled with a surge in gang violence primarily centered in the capital of Port-au-Prince since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021.

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