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DE RUEHC #8536/01 1022050
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 112044Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA 6630
RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS//
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI//
RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA//
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400//
RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B//
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC//
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT//
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 9857
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0636
INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1638

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 038536 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC OTRA HT
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - HAITI 
 
¶1.      This Travel Warning is being issued to inform American 
citizens of violent demonstrations in Haiti and to urge 
American citizens to defer non-essential travel to the 
country.  Official Americans are restricted from travel to 
Haiti.  American citizens visiting Haiti should consider 
departing as soon as circumstances permit.  Americans in 
Haiti should remain vigilant in regard to their personal 
security, take commonsense precautions, and avoid any 
event where crowds may congregate.  The violence may 
result in occasional limitation of Embassy operations to 
emergency services.  Americans are also reminded of 
ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent 
kidnappings of Americans for ransom. This Travel Warning 
supersedes the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on August 
31, 2007. 
 
¶2.      In early April 2008, there was a violent outbreak of 
civil unrest in Haiti.  Protestors angered by high food 
prices filled the streets of Port-au-Prince, forcing 
businesses and schools to close.  Demonstrations continue 
and have frequently turned violent with firing of weapons, 
rock throwing, tire-burning, erection of street 
barricades, and looting.  The violence has forced most 
people to stay indoors and stranded others in isolated 
locations.  The demonstrations began in the southern city 
of Les Cayes, where four persons were reported killed 
during clashes with U.N. peacekeepers.  Haitian National 
Police and U.N. troops are in the streets to restore 
order, using teargas and rubber bullets to disperse 
rioters and looters.  Mobs, burning tires, and barricades 
along the main routes of the capital have disrupted access 
to the Port-au-Prince International Airport, which remains 
open. 
 
¶3.      American citizens should defer non-essential travel to 
Haiti at this time.  Those visiting Haiti should consider 
departing as soon as circumstances permit.  Americans in 
Haiti are advised to remain vigilant in regard to their 
personal security, take commonsense precautions, and avoid 
any event where crowds may congregate.  Due to the absence 
of an effective police force in much of Haiti, there is a 
potential for looting, the presence of intermittent 
roadblocks set by armed gangs or by the police, and the 
possibility of random violent crime, including carjacking 
and assault. Americans in Haiti should closely monitor 
news media and the U.S. Embassy's website at 
http://haiti.usembassy.gov/warden_information .html. 
 
¶4.      U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Haiti 
despite this warning are reminded that there is also a 
chronic danger of violent crime, especially kidnappings. 
Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the 
kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, 
gender or age; all are vulnerable.  There were 29 reported 
kidnappings of Americans in 2007.  As of the date of this 
Travel Warning thirteen Americans were reported kidnapped 
in 2008.  Most of the Americans were abducted in Port-au- 
Prince.  These kidnappings have been marked by deaths, 
brutal physical and sexual assault, and shooting of 
Americans. The lack of civil protections in Haiti, as well 
as the limited capability of local law enforcement to 
resolve kidnapping cases, further compounds the element of 
danger surrounding this trend. 
 
¶5.      Travel is always hazardous within Port-au-Prince. 
Official American visitors are restricted from traveling 
to Haiti at the present time.  U.S. Embassy personnel are 
under an embassy-imposed curfew and must remain in their 
homes or in U.S. government facilities during the curfew. 
Some areas are off-limits to embassy staff after dark, 
 
STATE 00038536  002 OF 002 
 
 
including downtown Port-au-Prince.  The embassy limits 
travel by its staff to areas outside of Port-au-Prince and 
therefore the ability to provide emergency services to 
U.S. citizens outside of Port-au-Prince is constrained. 
The UN stabilization force (MINUSTAH) remains fully 
deployed and is assisting the government of Haiti in 
providing security. 
 
¶6.      The Department of State strongly advises U.S. citizens 
traveling to or residing in Haiti to register either 
online at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ or 
with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au- 
Prince.  The Consular Section can be reached at (509) 223- 
7011, fax number (509) 223-9665, or e-mail address 
acspap@state.gov.  Travelers should also consult the 
Department of State's latest Country Specific Information 
for Haiti and the Worldwide Caution at 
http://travel.state.gov.  American citizens may also 
obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by 
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States or 
Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas. In Haiti, citizens 
can call 509/222-0200, ext. 2000. 
 
¶7.  Minimize considered. 
RICE