(Ottawa) On the second day of the repatriation operation of Canadians who requested assistance to leave Haiti, 46 citizens were airlifted to the Dominican Republic.
By adding to this contingent the 36 Canadian citizens who benefited from the airlift between neighboring countries on Tuesday, there are now 82 people who have been evacuated by aircraft chartered by the Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said on Wednesday.
Since the repatriation operation was announced last Monday, the number of people who have requested information has increased significantly, from around 300 to 685 this Wednesday, according to an update from the ministry.
The Canadian government had to resolve to launch this rescue mission due to the deterioration of the security situation in the country. The closure of Toussaint-Louverture international airport, in Port-au-Prince, on March 4, is among other reasons at the origin of this decision.
The Cap-Haïtien international airport, north of the capital, remains operational. “We strongly advise against any travel by road between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, due to the presence of gangs and a very volatile security situation,” however warned AMC.
Currently, only Canadian citizens holding a valid passport can take advantage of this assisted departure program. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, however, demonstrated her desire to broaden its scope last Monday.
Canadians arriving in the Dominican Republic are responsible for onward travel to their final destination, as well as accommodation costs in Santo Domingo. Financial assistance in the form of emergency loans is available for those who need it.
Currently, 3,105 people are registered in the register of Canadians in Haiti. As registration is voluntary, this figure does not necessarily reflect reality.