Haiti travel warning issued by US due to violent crimes

[NewsCaster]

By The Associated PressThe State Department has issued a revised Haiti travel advisory, warning  Americans planning to travel to the Caribbean island nation about robbery,  lawlessness, infectious disease and poor medical facilities.

"U.S.  citizens have been victims of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping,  predominantly in the Port-au-Prince area. No one is safe from kidnapping,  regardless of occupation, nationality, race, gender, or age," the department  said.

The new travel warning was released Friday to replace a less  strongly worded advisory issued in June.  


In recent months, travelers  arriving in Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city, on flights from the  United States have been attacked and robbed after leaving the airport. This  year, at least two U.S. citizens were shot and killed in robbery and kidnapping  incidents, the State Department said.

"Haitian authorities have limited  capacity to deter or investigate such violent acts, or prosecute perpetrators,"  the department said.

The State Department also noted that while the  incidents of cholera have declined, the disease persists in many areas of Haiti.  Medical facilities, including ambulance services, are particularly weak.  

"Thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Haiti each year, but the poor  state of Haiti's emergency response network should be carefully considered when  planning travel. Travelers to Haiti are encouraged to use organizations that  have solid infrastructure, evacuation, and medical support options in place,"  the department said.

NBCNews

[Nifemi Donald]

This made me remember the terrible incident that befell Haiti few years back