Haiti’s Port-au-Prince airport has reopened after being shut down for nearly three months due to horrific gang violence, virtually cutting off the capital city from the rest of the world.
So far, only Sunrise Airways, a small regional carrier, has resumed flights; however, other international flights, including those operated by JetBlue and American Airlines, may resume in the coming weeks.
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According to two Haitian officials briefed on the preparations, the only option to reopen the airport safely was to bulldoze hundreds of homes nearby.
During the early March attacks, gang members were able to shoot into the airport from the roofs of these homes, hitting planes parked on the runway.
According to officials, residents of the residences forced to vacate the region would be paid for their relocation.
American military planes have landed about two dozen times in recent weeks, transporting relief and supplies, much of which is intended to support the future international security effort.
Kenyan Police Heading to Haiti Soon
According to a senior Kenyan government official, a group of Kenyan police officers who have enlisted to join the UN-backed international security force will be arriving in Haiti in the near future. They may even arrive as early as this week.
The police force is set to expand in the coming months, reaching a total of around 1,000 officers. Additionally, several hundred officers from various other nations will join the force, with many expected to arrive later in the summer.
Kenyan President Ruto is scheduled to have a state visit to Washington, D.C., coinciding with the deployment.
