Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE7822
2009-01-28 23:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007822
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER OTRA HT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - HAITI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 007822
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER OTRA HT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - HAITI
1. The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks
of travel to Haiti and recommends deferring non-essential
travel until further notice. This Travel Warning replaces
the Travel Warning dated April 30, 2008, and is being
issued to remind American citizens of the destructive
impact of a series of hurricanes in 2008, to provide
updated information on country conditions, and to alert
Americans to ongoing security concerns. Travelers are
strongly advised to thoroughly consider the risks before
traveling to Haiti and to take adequate precautions to
ensure their safety if traveling to Haiti.
2. During the 2008 hurricane season, four tropical storms
struck Haiti, which resulted in torrential rains,
extensive flooding and mudslides, and hundreds of reported
casualties. The lack of governmental infrastructure and
rescue services combined with impassable roads and bridges
severely hindered rescue and relief efforts. In late
August and September 2008, heavy rains and gale-force
winds from hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike pelted
the country's coastline and interior causing heavy
flooding and mudslides. In the aftermath of the storms,
eight of the country's nine departments reported
significant physical and economic devastation. The storm
damage came on the heels of the civil unrest in April
2008. Conditions in Haiti may occasionally limit Embassy
assistance to American citizens to emergency services.
3. In early April 2008, there were violent
demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and
as many as seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-
Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded
in isolated locations and could not safely travel until
calm was restored. The absence of an effective police
force in many areas of Haiti means that, when protests
take place, there is potential for looting, the erection
of intermittent roadblocks set by armed protestors or by
the police, and an increased possibility of random crime,
including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed
robbery and assault. Americans in Haiti should practice
good personal security, take commonsense precautions and
avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Even
demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent.
Americans should closely monitor news media and the U.S.
Embassy's website at:
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information .html.
4. U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Haiti
despite this warning are reminded that there also is a
chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings.
Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the
kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race,
gender, or age. As of January 2009, 25 Americans were
reported kidnapped in 2008. Most of the Americans were
abducted in Port-au-Prince. Some kidnap victims have been
killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or brutally abused.
The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the
limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve
kidnapping cases, further compounds the element of danger
surrounding this trend.
5. Travel is always hazardous within Port-au-Prince.
U.S. Embassy personnel are under an Embassy-imposed curfew
and must remain in their homes or in U.S. government
facilities during the curfew. Some areas are off-limits
to Embassy staff after dark, including downtown Port-au-
Prince. The Embassy restricts travel by its staff to some
areas outside of Port-au-Prince because of the prevailing
road and security conditions. This may constrain our
ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens
STATE 00007822 002 OF 002
outside of Port-au-Prince. Demonstrations and violence
may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency
services, even within Port-au-Prince. The UN
stabilization force (MINUSTAH) remains fully deployed and
is assisting the government of Haiti in providing
security.
6. The Department of State strongly advises U.S.
citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti to register
either online at https://travelregistration.state.gov or with
the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-
Prince. The Consular Section can be reached at (509)
(2)229-8000 or e-mail address acspap@state.gov. Travelers
should also consult the Department of State's latest
Country Specific Information for Haiti and the Worldwide
Caution at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens also may
obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States.
7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER OTRA HT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - HAITI
1. The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks
of travel to Haiti and recommends deferring non-essential
travel until further notice. This Travel Warning replaces
the Travel Warning dated April 30, 2008, and is being
issued to remind American citizens of the destructive
impact of a series of hurricanes in 2008, to provide
updated information on country conditions, and to alert
Americans to ongoing security concerns. Travelers are
strongly advised to thoroughly consider the risks before
traveling to Haiti and to take adequate precautions to
ensure their safety if traveling to Haiti.
2. During the 2008 hurricane season, four tropical storms
struck Haiti, which resulted in torrential rains,
extensive flooding and mudslides, and hundreds of reported
casualties. The lack of governmental infrastructure and
rescue services combined with impassable roads and bridges
severely hindered rescue and relief efforts. In late
August and September 2008, heavy rains and gale-force
winds from hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike pelted
the country's coastline and interior causing heavy
flooding and mudslides. In the aftermath of the storms,
eight of the country's nine departments reported
significant physical and economic devastation. The storm
damage came on the heels of the civil unrest in April
2008. Conditions in Haiti may occasionally limit Embassy
assistance to American citizens to emergency services.
3. In early April 2008, there were violent
demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and
as many as seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-
Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded
in isolated locations and could not safely travel until
calm was restored. The absence of an effective police
force in many areas of Haiti means that, when protests
take place, there is potential for looting, the erection
of intermittent roadblocks set by armed protestors or by
the police, and an increased possibility of random crime,
including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed
robbery and assault. Americans in Haiti should practice
good personal security, take commonsense precautions and
avoid any event where crowds may congregate. Even
demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent.
Americans should closely monitor news media and the U.S.
Embassy's website at:
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information .html.
4. U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Haiti
despite this warning are reminded that there also is a
chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings.
Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the
kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race,
gender, or age. As of January 2009, 25 Americans were
reported kidnapped in 2008. Most of the Americans were
abducted in Port-au-Prince. Some kidnap victims have been
killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or brutally abused.
The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well as the
limited capability of local law enforcement to resolve
kidnapping cases, further compounds the element of danger
surrounding this trend.
5. Travel is always hazardous within Port-au-Prince.
U.S. Embassy personnel are under an Embassy-imposed curfew
and must remain in their homes or in U.S. government
facilities during the curfew. Some areas are off-limits
to Embassy staff after dark, including downtown Port-au-
Prince. The Embassy restricts travel by its staff to some
areas outside of Port-au-Prince because of the prevailing
road and security conditions. This may constrain our
ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens
STATE 00007822 002 OF 002
outside of Port-au-Prince. Demonstrations and violence
may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency
services, even within Port-au-Prince. The UN
stabilization force (MINUSTAH) remains fully deployed and
is assisting the government of Haiti in providing
security.
6. The Department of State strongly advises U.S.
citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti to register
either online at https://travelregistration.state.gov or with
the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-
Prince. The Consular Section can be reached at (509)
(2)229-8000 or e-mail address acspap@state.gov. Travelers
should also consult the Department of State's latest
Country Specific Information for Haiti and the Worldwide
Caution at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens also may
obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States.
7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON