Haiti's Prime Minister has announced his intention to step down once a transitional presidential council is established amidst the escalating violence and unrest in the Caribbean nation. The country is currently facing a dire situation with violent gangs engaging in attacks on government buildings, the main airport, and jails, resulting in the release of thousands of prisoners. The exact number of Americans trapped in Haiti remains unknown, adding to the urgency of the crisis.
The capital city of Port-au-Prince is on the brink of chaos, prompting the Prime Minister to make way for an interim council to take control of the situation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to Washington after urgent consultations with allies to address the deteriorating conditions in Haiti.
The Biden administration has been supporting Prime Minister Ariel Henri since the assassination of his predecessor in 2021. However, internal opposition from prominent gangs such as G9 and GPEP has intensified, leading to the current state of unrest. The State Department has acknowledged the likelihood of a mass exodus of Haitians seeking asylum in the US due to the crisis.
Republican representative Cory Mills has criticized the State Department for allegedly abandoning American youths in a Haitian orphanage during an evacuation operation. The State Department has issued a travel advisory warning for Americans, citing the high risk of kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest in Haiti.
To address the urgent need for peace and stability in Haiti, the Biden administration has allocated $430 million in aid. However, achieving these goals seems challenging given the current volatile situation in the country. Border Patrol agents in Florida have been placed on high alert in anticipation of a potential surge in migration from Haiti to the United States.
