VZCZCXRO0740
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBZ
RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH
RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI
RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHJS RUEHKN
RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH
RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU
RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO
RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #5057/01 1990713
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180657Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7717
RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 8417
INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1908

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 075057 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER OTRA HT
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: TRAVEL WARNING - HAITI 
 
¶1.  The State Department warns U.S. citizens to exercise 
a high degree of caution when traveling to Haiti.  While 
the overall security situation has improved, political 
tensions remain, and the potential for politically- 
motivated violence persists.  This Travel Warning 
replaces the Travel Warning dated January 28, 2009, and 
is being issued to provide updated information on 
country conditions, and to alert Americans to ongoing 
security concerns and on contacting and registering with 
the U.S. Embassy in Haiti. 
 
 
¶2.  Haiti, like most Caribbean countries, can be 
affected by hurricanes and other storms.  Hurricane 
season runs from approximately June 1 - November 30 each 
year.  The lack of infrastructure and rescue services, 
combined with impassable roads and bridges, have 
severely hindered rescue and relief efforts.  During the 
2008 hurricane season, four tropical storms struck 
Haiti, causing torrential rains, extensive flooding and 
mudslides, and hundreds of reported casualties.  Most 
transport infrastructure damaged by the 2008 storms has 
been repaired, although in many cases repairs are 
temporary pending the construction of more permanent 
structures.  Haiti has few secondary roads that are in 
good condition.  Drivers traveling on Haiti's roads must 
be aware that there will be frequent deviations, 
stoppages and obstructions due to ongoing road 
construction and repairs. For additional details 
concerning traffic safety and road conditions, please 
see the Department of State's Country Specific 
Information for Haiti. 
 
¶3.  There were violent confrontations between opposing 
candidates' supporters and armed attacks on polling 
stations in a handful of Haitian towns during the April 
19, 2009, Senate elections.  There was less violence in 
the second round of voting on June 21.  International 
monitors described the elections as generally well- 
organized and orderly.  The absence of an effective 
police force in many areas of Haiti means that, when 
protests take place, there is potential for looting, the 
erection of intermittent roadblocks by armed protestors 
or by the police, and the possibility of random crime, 
including kidnapping, carjacking, home invasion, armed 
robbery and assault.  Although the Haitian National 
Police are more visible and are contributing to 
improving public security, especially in the 
metropolitan area of the capital, Americans in Haiti 
should practice good personal security, take commonsense 
precautions and avoid any event where crowds may 
congregate.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful 
occasionally turn violent.  Americans 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 also is 
persistent danger of violent crime, especially 
kidnappings.  Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, 
and the kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, 
race, gender, or age.  The incidence of kidnapping in 
Haiti has diminished from its peak in 2006 when 60 
Americans were reported kidnapped.  As of July 2009, one 
American had been reported kidnapped this year.  In 
2008, 27 Americans were reported kidnapped. Most of the 
Americans were abducted in Haiti's two largest cities, 
Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien.  Some kidnap victims 
have been killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or 
physically abused.  While the capacity and capabilities 
of the Haitian National Police have improved since 2006, 
 
STATE 00075057  002 OF 002 
 
 
the presence of UN stabilization force (MINUSTAH) 
peacekeeping troops and UN-formed police units remain 
critical to maintaining an adequate level of security 
throughout the country.  The lack of civil protections 
in Haiti, as well as the limited capability of local law 
enforcement to resolve crime, further compounds the 
security threat to American citizens. 
 
¶5.      While MINUSTAH remains fully deployed and is 
assisting the government of Haiti in providing security, 
travel is always hazardous within Port-au-Prince.  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, including downtown Port-au- 
Prince.  The Embassy restricts travel by its staff to 
some areas outside of Port-au-Prince because of the 
prevailing road, weather, or security conditions.  This 
may constrain our ability to provide emergency services 
to U.S. citizens outside Port-au-Prince.  Demonstrations 
and violence may occasionally limit Embassy operations 
to emergency services, even within Port-au-Prince. 
 
¶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 or 
with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port- 
au-Prince.  The Consular Section can be reached at (509) 
(2)229-8000 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 also may obtain up-to-date information on 
security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free 
in the United States. 
 
¶7.  Minimize considered. 
CLINTON