As civil unrest continues to rise in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, the Foreign Ministry gave assurances on Monday that all 24 Taiwanese nationals staying in the country are safe and accounted for.
Gang violence escalated in Haiti over the weekend with attacks carried out at the presidential residence and the country’s Interior Ministry. In response, several diplomatic missions, including the U.S. and Germany, have initiated evacuation of personnel on Monday.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry says the main areas of turmoil in Haiti are concentrated in the capital and near the international airport, underscoring the area where the Taiwanese embassy is located remains relatively calm. The ministry points out that since 2021, guards stationed at the embassy have been increased and security equipment have been upgraded to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel. It says the 24 nationals - comprising essential embassy personnel, businessmen and their families - are safe. The ministry adds that given the current chaos, moving nationals hastily could increase safety risk.
The ministry reassures that it is maintaining close contact with the Taiwan nationals and that it is reviewing contingency plans regularly. It also reminds the public that Haiti remains on the “red” travel alert, the highest warning level, which warns against travel to Haiti.