India begins operation Indravati to evacuate its nationals stranded in violence-hit Haiti

The Indian government has initiated operation Indravati to evacuate its citizens from the violence hit nation of Haiti. S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, said on social media that 12 Indian citizens had been evacuated from the Caribbean nation on Thursday (March 21).

“India begins Operation Indravati to evacuate its nationals from Haiti to the Dominican Republic. 12 Indians evacuated today,” he said on X.

He also reassured his compatriots that in the event of an emergency or unfavorable circumstance, the government would look after its citizens residing abroad.

“Totally dedicated to ensuring the safety and welfare of our citizens overseas, we express gratitude to the Dominican Republic’s government for their assistance,” the external affairs minister said.

Earlier, the United States started to fly out its citizens from Haiti by helicopter as reports of fresh fighting emerged in the gang-dominated capital of the Caribbean country.

There were also reports of fierce gunfire in some of the wealthiest enclaves of Port-au-Prince. 

Speaking to the reporters, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel on Wednesday (Mar 20) said that the government-chartered aircraft have started the process of ferrying the Americans from Port-au-Prince to the Dominican Republic.

According to a report by the UN food agency, nearly 4 million people in Haiti are facing food insecurity and hunger due to a wide range of factors, primarily gang violence.

A total of 360,000 people have been displaced in the country, and the number of people affected by hunger is likely to further increase to 1 million in the coming days.

Port-au-Prince has been turned into “a bubble” where gangs control the roads, the port and airport are closed and no one can get in or get out, said the UN agency.

(With inputs from agencies)