A plane carrying 21 Americans fleeing Haiti arrived in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday night, the latest in a series of US-chartered flights from the embattled Caribbean nation, which has descended into chaos amid?rampant gang violence?and political instability.
Florida’s Division of Emergency Management announced the plane’s arrival on Sunday, noting that, to date, a total of 35 Americans have been “rescued by state-coordinated emergency flights.”
According to the?agency, those who landed in Orlando had access to numerous resources, including meals and water, lodging, transportation, basic health and medical screenings, phones and ID replacement services.
“The Division is working around the clock through every available avenue to get our residents home,” Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said in a news release. “Governor (Ron) DeSantis directed us to tackle every challenge in our path and not stop until the mission is complete.”
DeSantis issued an executive order on March 15 declaring a state of emergency in Florida?after the agency received numerous requests from Floridians who were stranded in Haiti.
Hundreds of US citizens remain in Haiti and nearly 1,000 had filled out crisis intake forms as of March 19, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel previously told CNN. That number includes people who either want to leave or want to receive more information from US officials.
The first Florida-organized flight brought 14 people from Haiti to Orlando Sanford International Airport last week. Guthrie had said on Wednesday roughly 360 Floridians remain in Haiti.
Federal officials have also been working to evacuate American citizens. On March 17, the State Department said it flew dozens of Americans from Cap-Haitien, a city on Haiti’s north coast, to Miami. On Wednesday, the State Department said it expects more than 30 Americans will be able to board the US government flights each day they are chartered.
Americans on these flights?must agree?to reimburse the US government for the cost, which the State Department?has said?won’t exceed the price of a reasonable commercial flight before the crisis. DeSantis said people traveling on the plane that landed in Florida would not be charged.
Conditions in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince have grossly deteriorated amid the unprecedented assault, which pushed?Prime Minister Ariel Henry?to announce his resignation. Criminal groups have?choked off the city’s supply?of food, fuel and water, and blocked access to the port and roads leading out of the city, leaving residents to shelter in their homes as the streets become grounds for urban warfare between the gangs and Haiti’s National Police.
A small class of wealthy foreigners and diplomats are among the few able to charter private evacuation helicopters out of the city. Hundreds of people have put their names on lists to flee Port-au-Prince by air, several pilots told CNN last week, when seats on private flights had price tags as high as $10,000.
Typically packed streets of the capital have become ghostlands as residents rarely leave their homes due to the threat of violence, CNN crews have reported. Attacks and arson have also displaced thousands of people who have cowded into dozens of displacement camps across the city.
As vital food and water supplies dwindle, the United Nations said it was working to set up an air bridge between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to bring necessities to the city.
CNN’s Colin McCullough,?Alisha Ebrahimji,?Jillian Sykes, Denise Royal, Carlos Suarez,?Caitlin Hu, David Culver, Evelio Contreras, Michael Conte and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.
Video Ad Feedback Inside the Haitian capital as gangs battle for control, sparking a severe shortage of food. 05:42?- Source:?CNN
Sponsored
TGGIA PAID CONTENT RECOMMENDED BY
An Ohio toddler died after her mom left her home alone while she took a 10-day vacation. A judge called it the ‘ultimate act of betrayal’U.S.
Teen pulls out gun on beach full of spring breakers in FloridaU.S.
Body of missing California hiker found near waterfallU.S.
The Forbes Rankings are Out: The 50 Best Colleges in AmericaAcademic Excellence Awaits at These Prestigious InstitutionsSponsored: Forbes
Complete List Of Taylor Swift’s Ex LoversSponsored: Better Manly
[Pics] Americans Are Bailing On These StatesIn AbundanceSponsored: Definition
[Pics] This Is Where Lindsey Graham Lives With His PartnerSponsored: Daily Finance Stories
Put A Bread Clip In Your Wallet When TravelingSponsored: Investing Magazine
[Photos] Hailey Bieber’s Wedding Dress Made Guests UncomfortableSponsored: Investing Magazine
25 US Colleges That Are Borderline WorthlessSponsored: YourDIY
Complete List Of Taylor Swift’s Ex LoversSponsored: Better Manly
[Photos] Once Ruler Of The Sea, Now Left Rotting For YearsSponsored: Investing Magazine
This State Is So Poor, It’s Not Worth Living There AnymoreSponsored: Money Wise
17 Maps That Show Us A New Perspective Of The U.S.Sponsored: YourDIY
These Things Are Considered ‘Normal’ In DubaiSponsored: Doc Journals
[Gallery] Restaurant in Texas Had The Guts to Put This On Their SignSponsored: Doc Journals
Here’s How To Fly Business Class For The Price of EconomySponsored: SearchFavorites | Search Ads
Recommended for you Recommended by
Sponsored Here’s How To Fly Business Class For The Price of EconomySearchFavorites | Search Ads
Sponsored This Game is So Beautiful. If You Have a Computer it’s a Must-Have.Raid: Shadow Legends
Sponsored [Photos] The Dark Side of Dubai They Don’t Want Tourists to Know. Here’s a Glimpse.Show Snob
Sponsored [Photos] Firefighter Who Heard Princess Diana’s Final Words Opened Up What Really Happened To Her Before Her PassingShow Snob
Sponsored [Photos] Princess Caroline Grieved Over Her Second Husband’s Unexpected Passing - Here’s What HappenedUndead Walking
Sponsored [Photos] The Hidden Side of Russia Finally Exposed. Here are 22+ Photos That Show What it Means to Live in Russia.Show Snob
Sponsored [Photos] Vanna White’s Son Came Out, Making Her Proud Of Who He Truly WasUndead Walking
Sponsored 3 Weeks After Giving Birth To Twins, Mom Felt Sick – When Doctor Sees Ultrasound He Says: I’m SorryNew parents believed they were returning home with twins, only to receive life-altering newsDistrictOnDeck
Sponsored [Photos] Her Dress At The Oscars Will Be Spoken About For CenturiesThe red carpet can be an opportunity to see a lot more of the stars than we might have expected.WackoJaco
MORE FROM CNN
Carnage?on the?streets of Port-au-Prince as world stalls on a …
Cruises are still calling into port in Haiti. Here’s why
Armed men attack police stations near National Palace as Haiti’s gang …
Ad Feedback
NEWS & BUZZ
Lisa Murkowski, done with Donald Trump, won’t rule out leaving GOP
Here’s what happens if Trump can’t get a $464 million bond
Kate’s cancer revelation throws royal family into fresh turmoil
Ad Feedback RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
You’re Legally Skilled if You Name 15/20 Car PartsBrake For It
The Forbes Rankings are Out: The 50 Best Colleges in AmericaForbes
These Things Are Considered ‘Normal’ In DubaiDoc Journals
[Photos] Visit To Barron’s Luxurious HouseSport Pirate
[Pics] 25+ Historical Figures Who Lived Long Enough To Be PhotographedInvesting Magazine
Ad Feedback
US Crime + JusticeEnergy + EnvironmentExtreme WeatherSpace + Science World AfricaAmericasAsiaAustraliaChinaEuropeIndiaMiddle EastUnited Kingdom Politics SCOTUSCongressFacts First2024 Elections Business TechMediaCalculatorsVideos Markets Pre-marketsAfter-HoursMarket MoversFear & GreedWorld MarketsInvestingMarkets NowBefore the BellNightcap Opinion Political Op-EdsSocial Commentary Health Life, But BetterFitnessFoodSleepMindfulnessRelationships Entertainment MoviesTelevisionCelebrity Tech InnovateGadgetForeseeable FutureMission: AheadUpstartsWork TransformedInnovative Cities Style ArtsDesignFashionArchitectureLuxuryBeautyVideo Travel DestinationsFood & DrinkStayNewsVideos Sports Pro FootballCollege FootballBasketballBaseballSoccerOlympicsHockey Watch Live TVCNN HeadlinesCNN MaxDigital StudiosCNN FilmsHLNTV ScheduleTV Shows A-ZCNNVR Listen
CNN Underscored ElectronicsFashionBeautyHealth & FitnessHomeReviewsDealsMoneyGiftsTravelOutdoorsPetsCNN Store Coupons Weather ClimateStorm TrackerWildfire TrackerVideo About CNN PhotosInvestigationsCNN ProfilesCNN LeadershipCNN NewslettersWork for CNN US WatchListenLive TV
FOLLOW CNN
Sign in Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie SettingsAd ChoicesAccessibility & CCAboutNewslettersTranscripts? 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ? & ? 2016 Cable News Network.
!["Nick]("https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/181120154047-nick-paton-walsh-2018.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill/c_thumb,g_face,w_100,h_100")
!["Stefano]("https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/1535150-0055-r-ps2560x1440.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill/c_thumb,g_face,w_100,h_100")
!["Jim]("https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230201161424-jim-sciutto.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill/c_thumb,g_face,w_100,h_100")
!["Ben]("https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180620162001-ben-wedeman-byline.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill/c_thumb,g_face,w_100,h_100")
