Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is en route to Jamaica for an emergency meeting to address the escalating situation in Haiti. The US embassy in Haiti has evacuated non-essential personnel due to the surge in gang violence near the compound.
Blinken is advocating for Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henri, who is currently in Puerto Rico and unable to return to Haiti, to announce a transitional government. However, it remains uncertain if Henri will travel to Jamaica to meet with Blinken.
The crisis in Haiti is rapidly deteriorating, with reports of heightened violence and instability. Over the weekend, a US military helicopter conducted a covert operation to evacuate diplomats and reinforce security at the embassy in Port-au-Prince.
Several diplomatic missions have decided to withdraw entirely from Haiti, citing the dangerous operating conditions. Western diplomats and aid organizations are also working to evacuate their staff from the country.
Reports from diplomats on the ground indicate severe shortages of food and water, as they are confined to their locations due to the volatile security situation. Meanwhile, Haitian civilians are enduring dire conditions in gang-controlled neighborhoods, caught in the crossfire of escalating violence.
Gangs in Haiti have declared their opposition to Prime Minister Henri's return and have threatened to forcibly remove the government through armed means. The situation remains fluid and tense, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the troubled nation.
