• Exercise an increase level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince

•   Be aware of your surroundings and exit suspicious areas immediately!

•   Report suspected incidents of surveillance (someone watching you)

• Avoid the following high crime areas in Port-au-Prince: Croix-des-Bouquets, Carrefour, Martissant, Boulevard La Saline (the port road), urban route Nationale #1, Boulevard Toussaint L'Ouverture (the airport road) and its adjoining connectors to the New ("American") Road via Route Nationale #1

•   Avoid travel in and around Port-au-Prince after daylight hours

•   Limit the number of people with advanced knowledge of travel plans to trusted staff members

• Ensure a US colleague or friend is aware of your travel plans including route to be taken and expected departure/arrival times

•   Vary routes and times to avoid becoming time and place predictable

•   Travel in convoys or with a group of people whenever possible

•   Avoid displays of wealth, currency, employment affiliation, or nationality

•   Attempt to coordinate relief efforts with other organizations to combine security resources and share expertise (share a bodyguard or security guard)

•   Provide a security brief to employees traveling to or working in Haiti

Incidents Overview

Recent kidnappings appear to be financially motivated. On March 5, kidnappers targeted two European employees working for Doctors Without Borders, an international non-governmental organization. The incident allegedly occurred at approximately 6:30pm when the employees were leaving their office in the upscale suburb of Petionville. The employees were released five days later. Unconfirmed reports indicate that a ransom was paid for their release.

On March 24, a Belgian businessman who was employed as a consultant by an international humanitarian relief organization was kidnapped in the early evening hours as he drove from the Sarthe area of Port-au-Prince to his home in the lower Delmas. The victim was held for less than 24 hours by his kidnappers. Local media reports indicate a ransom was paid for his release.

Ongoing Kidnapping Concerns in Haiti

The kidnapping threat in Haiti will likely continue to increase in the near-term due to the lack of adequate security forces. The Haitian National Police and U.N. peacekeepers have experienced significant strain, limiting their ability to recapture Haitian kidnapping gangs that escaped following the January 12 earthquake. In addition, Haiti’s ongoing socio-economic problems, including its record high unemployment rates, have prompted Haiti’s destitute to find alternative sources of income, which are often illegitimate.

U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince released the following Warden Message on October 19, 2010:

 

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that with 2 recent kidnappings over the last week, the incidence of kidnappings of American citizens in Haiti has reached a total of 9 cases so far in calendar year 2010. The incidence of kidnapping in Haiti has diminished from its peak in 2006 when 60 U.S. citizens were reported kidnapped. In 2007, there were 29 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens, while in 2008 there were 27 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens. Last year, there were only 2 reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens. Most kidnappings are criminal in nature, and the kidnappers make no distinctions of nationality, race, gender, or age. Some kidnap victims have been killed, shot, sexually assaulted, or physically abused.  Many U.S. citizens who were kidnapped reported being beaten and/or raped by their hostage takers. Kidnapping remains the most critical security concern. Kidnappers have frequently targeted children.

Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and may occasionally be confrontational and gratuitously violent. Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime. In robberies or home invasions, it is not uncommon for the assailants to beat or shoot the victim in order to limit the victim's ability to resist. If an armed individual demands the surrender of a vehicle or other valuables, the U.S. Embassy recommends compliance without resistance. This recommendation also applies in the event of a kidnapping. Visitors to Haiti should exercise caution at all times and review basic personal security procedures frequently.

In the event of a kidnapping of an American citizen, the family of the victim should immediately contact the Haitian National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (HNP/AKU) at the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire (DCPJ) at: 250-3630, as well as the U.S. Embassy for assistance. During normal working hours, the embassy point of contact (POC) will be the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit, and after hours the POC will be the embassy duty officer, who is responsible for managing assistance from local law enforcement as we well as any additional law enforcement assets. The HNP have normal jurisdiction on kidnapping investigations in Haiti and they work most effectively with international law enforcement assistance. It is strongly advised that the family of the victim designate a trusted family member or friend as negotiator or third party intermediary (TPI) to deal with the kidnappers’ demands. Local and international law enforcement assets will stand ready to provide negotiation assistance to the TPI. It is also strongly advised that the family have available several phone lines and not make any offers to the kidnappers until directed to do so under the advice of law enforcement. If the family does not want law enforcement assistance, then law enforcement assistance will remain on standby throughout the incident.

U.S. citizens are advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince and other major Haitian cities.  They should be aware of their surroundings at all times and are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy.  They can do so at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html, which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

For emergencies involving American citizens, please contact the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Section, located at Boulevard du 15 Octobre, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti; telephone (509) 2-229-8000; after hours emergency telephone (509) 2-229-8000; ACS Unit fax (509) 2-229-8027; and e-mail at acspap@state.gov.