NOS News•today, 6:18 PM
France has evacuated 170 French and more than 70 other Europeans from Haiti. The people were picked up by army helicopters and taken by ship to Fort-de-France, the capital of the French overseas department of Martinique.
As far as we know, there are no Dutch people among the evacuees, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. It is possible that someone with Dutch nationality who also has a French passport was taken along.
Gang violence in Haiti flared up again late last month. The country has been struggling with gangs and poverty for years and there are regular confrontations between police units and gang members.
End of government
The gangs want to put an end to Prime Minister Henry’s government. He announced from Puerto Rico, where he resides, that he wants to resign and cooperate in a transitional government. But conversations about this are difficult and the violence continues. The last elections in the country were in 2016.
A local camera crew spoke to a gang leader dubbed ‘Barbecue’ as he is accused of roasting his opponents:
Gangs sow death and destruction in Haiti: ‘But I don’t kill for fun’
Early this month, gangs stormed a prison and released thousands of prisoners. They also captured the international airport.
Experts warn of an impending famine. There are reports of looting and food shortages.
There are a few Dutch people in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. But they have no need to be evacuated or to receive help from the ministry in any other way.
