Haiti's Main Airport Resumes Operations Following Gang-Induced Shutdown

Haiti's main international gateway, the Toussaint-Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince, resumed operations on Monday after a nearly three-month closure due to escalating gang violence. This reopening marks a significant step towards addressing the critical shortage of medications and other essential supplies in Haiti, as the country's primary seaport continues to be non-operational. For the moment, Sunrise Airways, a local airline, is the only carrier operating flights in and out of the capital. Major US airlines are anticipated to resume services by late May or early June, with Sunrise Airways' first flight to Miami scheduled to depart at 2:30 pm EDT on Monday.

Prior to this reopening, the only functional airport in Haiti was located in Cap-Haitien, a northern coastal city. However, access to this airport was severely restricted for many residents due to gang-controlled territories along the route from Port-au-Prince. This situation led to the U.S. government and various nonprofit organizations conducting helicopter evacuations for hundreds of American citizens and others from a besieged neighborhood in Port-au-Prince.

The surge in violence began on February 29, with armed groups taking over police stations, attacking the Port-au-Prince airport, and storming Haiti's two largest prisons, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 inmates. These gangs have since expanded their control to previously peaceful areas, displacing thousands and contributing to a significant rise in violence. The United Nations reported more than 2,500 people killed or injured in Haiti from January to March, marking a 50% increase from the same period in the previous year.

The chaos also impacted Haiti's political landscape, with former Prime Minister Ariel Henry stranded outside the country during an official trip to Kenya when the airport was seized. His subsequent resignation led to the formation of a transitional presidential council tasked with appointing a new prime minister, forming a new Cabinet, and organizing general elections.

In response to the crisis, U.S. military planes have delivered essential supplies and civilian contractors to Haiti to assist in preparations for welcoming foreign forces aimed at restoring order. The anticipated deployment of police officers from Kenya is in its final stages, as confirmed by Korir Singoei, Kenya's foreign affairs principal secretary. Despite initial plans, Kenyan President William Ruto will not visit Haiti but is expected to meet President Joe Biden during an official visit to the U.S.

Kenya's commitment to deploying 1,000 police officers to Haiti follows agreements signed in March between the two nations. This initiative is supported by several other countries including the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh. The exact timeline for the arrival of these international forces remains uncertain.