Four Salvadoran members of Haiti's multinational Gang Repression Force are still missing after their vehicle came under attack by armed gangs in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets on October 18. The force confirmed this week that search operations have been running in the area since Sunday, with troops clashing with gang members and helicopter support deployed. Preliminary reports say several gang fighters were killed and others wounded in those engagements.
Four other FSP personnel were hurt in the incident and are being treated. Croix-des-Bouquets sits roughly 12 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, in one of the areas where gangs have effectively taken control of neighbourhoods around the capital. The force has thanked El Salvador's government for coordinating extra support and has told residents of Santo and surrounding communities to stay indoors while operations continue.
The missing men are part of an international security mission that several countries, including El Salvador, have contributed to in an effort to push back against gangs that dominate much of Port-au-Prince. The attack is a stark signal of how dangerous the capital's outskirts remain, even for armed security personnel.
For travellers, the takeaway is simple: Haiti is not a holiday destination right now. Most governments, including the US, UK and Canada, advise against all travel to the country, citing gang violence, kidnappings, lawlessness and the difficulty of getting help in an emergency. The US State Department has had Haiti at its highest advisory level for some time, and airports in Port-au-Prince have repeatedly been disrupted by gunfire targeting aircraft. Commercial flight options are limited and can be suspended at short notice.
If you were considering Haiti for its history, coastline or culture, treat this incident as confirmation that the risks currently outweigh any appeal. Many travellers who want a Caribbean trip in that part of Hispaniola opt instead for the Dominican Republic next door, which shares the island but has a functioning tourism infrastructure in spots like Punta Cana, Santo Domingo and Samaná. Land travel between the two countries is also discouraged at present.
Anyone who must travel to Haiti, typically for essential work or family reasons, should register with their embassy, use professional security arrangements, avoid all movement after dark and keep contingency plans for leaving quickly. This attack on an armed convoy shows how little predictability there is even for those trained for the environment.
Update reported by Dominican Today.
