HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

March 29, 2010. Government Warning Issued for Haiti

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince released the following Warden Message on March 26, 2010:

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to inform U.S. citizens that since the January 12 earthquake, the Embassy has noted an increase in reports of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping, in Port-au-Prince, and crimes occurring in places frequented by foreigners, including areas that had until recently been considered safer after-dark, such as Petionville. Additionally, since the earthquake the capability of the Haitian National Police to patrol and to respond to reports of crime has been degraded. Due to these factors U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince, and are reminded to conduct themselves in a manner sensitive to the local situation when considering the planning of social events, travel, etc.

U.S. citizens are reminded to avoid certain high-crime zones in the Port-au-Prince area, including Croix-des-Bouquets, Carrefour, Martissant, the port road (Boulevard La Saline), urban route Nationale #1, the airport road (Boulevard Toussaint L'Ouverture) and its adjoining connectors to the New ("American") Road via Route Nationale #1 (which should also be avoided). This latter area in particular has in recent years been the scene of numerous robberies, carjackings, and murders. Embassy employees are prohibited from remaining in the downtown area after dark or from entering Cite Soleil and La Saline and their environs without additional security precautions due to significant criminal activity. Neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince once considered relatively safe, such as the Delmas road area and Petionville, have been the scenes of violent crimes.