Escalating Violence in Haiti Leads to Flight Cancellations Following Gunfire Incident
Recent violent clashes in Haiti have resulted in the cancellation of flights at the country's primary airport and the tragic loss of lives at a police station. Amidst escalating gang violence and political turmoil, Haiti faces a challenging situation.
Gunfire in Haiti has led to flight cancellations at the main airport and resulted in at least four deaths at a police station. The Caribbean nation is currently dealing with a rise in gang violence and political instability.
On Thursday, American Airlines announced the suspension of its daily service between Miami and Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince.
"We will keep a close eye on the situation, prioritizing safety and security, and make any necessary changes to our operations," said CNN spokesperson Laura Masvidal.
According to Haitian airline Sunrise Airways, all flights have been temporarily halted to protect the safety of passengers, ground crews, and aircraft.
Gunfire was heard in various areas of Port-au-Prince on Thursday, with reports of rapid shooting. According to Sunrise Airways, shootings near the airport resulted in damage to some aircraft and put users of the domestic terminal at risk.
Haiti has been facing a wave of unrest and gang violence in recent years, further exacerbating the situation in the country.
Much of Port-au-Prince is controlled by warring gangs, blocking important supply routes to the rest of the country. These gangs have also brought fear to the city's residents, leading to around 200,000 people being forced to leave their homes due to ongoing violence, including killings, kidnappings, arson, and sexual assaults.
The situation escalated in January, with approximately 1,100 people being killed, injured, or kidnapped. This marked the most violent month in two years, according to the United Nations.
According to a report from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BIUH), over 8,400 people fell victim to violence last year.
After the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021, Haiti experienced a surge in crime and violence.
Public frustration towards Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been growing due to his inability to control the ongoing unrest. This frustration escalated further when he did not follow through with holding elections last month, citing the increasing violence.
During a regional summit on Wednesday, Henry assured other Caribbean leaders that elections would take place no later than August 31 next year. This was the first time he confirmed a specific date for the long-awaited vote.
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Leaders from the CARICOM regional bloc, which consists of 20 developing countries and mostly island states, have decided to send a team to evaluate Haiti's electoral requirements.
According to various media reports, a prominent Haitian gang leader claimed that the gun battles in Port-au-Prince on Thursday were part of a plan to remove Henry's government.
Jimmy Cherizier, also known as "Barbecue," stated in a video circulating on social media that the goal is to not only bring down the Ariel Henry government but also to overhaul the entire system. This information was reported by international news agencies and Haitian media. It is important to note that CNN is unable to verify the authenticity of the video.
According to a security source who spoke with CNN, an attack occurred on Thursday at the Bon Repos Police Station, located north of Port-au-Prince. The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of at least four individuals, with three others sustaining injuries.
Three additional individuals sustained injuries in different incidents throughout the city of Port-au-Prince. One incident occurred at the airport, another near a prison in downtown Port-au-Prince, and a third inside the prison, according to a security source.
In response to reports of intense gunfire near Boulevard 15 du Octobre, where the US Embassy is situated, the embassy issued a security alert.
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The embassy said traffic in the area was blocked and a barricade was erected at the intersection near its premises.
CNN has reached out to the Haitian National Police for details.
The fighting started on the day Henry went to Kenya to finalize plans for a multinational security mission to Haiti. CNN reached out to the Haitian government for their response.
The UN-approved security mission is crucial to prevent a worsening situation in Haiti. Kenya has stepped up to lead this important mission.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced on X that their police officers are participating in the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, as directed by the United Nations Security Council and their courts.
In a recent statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that the United States plans to provide $200 million to support the Haitian national police in areas such as planning, intelligence, airlift capacity, communications, and medical equipment and services.
