The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised its alert status to Level 3 for Haiti, citing a precarious security environment amid escalating gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
In response to the ongoing unrest, the DFA initiated the activation of the voluntary repatriation program for Filipinos there. This decision comes as a result of the “current unstable security situation in the country,” as stated by the department.
Under Alert Level 3, the DFA has imposed restrictions on the deployment of new and returning Filipino citizens to Haiti, prioritizing their safety. Currently, there are 169 Filipinos recorded in the country, primarily concentrated in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
In light of these developments, Filipino residents in Haiti are strongly advised to exercise heightened vigilance, avoid public spaces, and limit non-essential movements, according to the DFA advisory.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier announced plans to repatriate at least 63 Filipinos from Haiti, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
Recent reports have detailed armed gang attacks and property looting in upscale neighborhoods such as Laboule and Thomassin in Port-au-Prince, prompting residents to flee for safety.
These gangs, known for their opposition to Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, continue to perpetrate violence despite Henry’s announcement of resignation nearly a week ago. The gangs attribute their actions to Henry’s perceived illegitimacy and his alleged exacerbation of poverty in the nation.
Security forces in Haiti killed at least three people, repelling an attack on the central bank as gang violence surges in the capital of Port-au-Prince, an employee said Tuesday.
The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) is one of the few key institutions still operating in the business district of the capital, which has been overrun by armed groups for the past three weeks.
On Monday, a “group of criminals” attacked its building but were driven back by the bank’s security guards as well as police and armed forces, a bank employee told Agence France Presse (AFP).
The employee, who requested anonymity, said three or four suspected criminals had been killed, adding that a bank security guard was also shot and wounded.
The US and European Union member states are among the countries, which have evacuated diplomatic personnel from Haiti due to the crisis. –With AFP