U.S. embassy staff ordered to leave Haiti

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 07, 2021, a Haitian police officer stands guard outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated. A former Haitian lawmaker who is a suspect in the assassination of the country's president has been arrested in Jamaica, a police source said on January 15, 2022. Ex-senator John Joel Joseph, wanted in the July 7, 2021, killing of president Jovenel Moise, was arrested overnight Friday into Saturday, the source said, without specifying where in Jamaica. VALERIE BAERISWYL / AFP

VALERIE BAERISWYL / AFP

Due to the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, the U.S. is withdrawing all of its government employees and their families from the country except for emergency personnel.

This is according to a travel warning updated on Thursday.

The U.S. State Department issued a warning saying, “Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure.

“U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges,’’ the State Department continued.

Haiti, the poorest country on the American continent, is located between North and South America on the island of Hispaniola, with the Dominican Republic on the eastern half of the island.

For years, Haiti had suffered from corruption, violence and natural disasters.

Since the devastating earthquake in 2010 with more than 220,000 deaths, Haiti had been relying on overseas development aid.

In addition, brutal gangs were fighting for control of the capital Port-au-Prince, which was increasingly sinking into chaos.

According to the UN, almost half of the 11 million Haitians are suffering from acute hunger.

“The U.S. government is extremely limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Haiti assistance.

“Assistance on site is available only from local authorities Haitian National Police and ambulance services,’’ the U.S. State Department continued.

The U.S. embassy also issued several warnings.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse almost two years ago, there had been a barely functioning interim government.

In October, the government requested the deployment of an international military force to quell the armed gangs, but nations have been wary of getting involved.

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