“As of Monday, officials said there were approximately 3,000 people with connections to Canada who had voluntarily registered their presence in Haiti with the government.”
Article content
An Airdrie man caught up in unrest in Haiti has found safety in Florida, as Canada works to evacuate Canadians.
Marc Honorat was rescued by Florida-based Agape Flights, which is working to get more people out of Haiti to safety.
Article content
When Postmedia spoke to Honorat less than two weeks ago, little was guaranteed regarding his safety.
Honorat, founder and CEO of Haiti Arise Ministries, a nonprofit organization that facilitates education, food supplies and health care in the Caribbean nation, said he was gripped by fear and uncertainty for his staff and children. from his school. amid worsening gang violence.
Advertisement 2
Article content
“I was praying and waiting and waiting, and all of a sudden we got an email from Agape Flights on Wednesday telling us they were going to fly to Haiti, so I immediately knew they could rescue me,” he said.
Two days later, Agape Flights flew from Florida to Cap-Haitien, and then from Cap-Haitien, in the west of the island, to Les Cayes. Honorat drove from Grand Goave, her area of Haiti, to Les Cayes and was one of 10 people who were able to find refuge in Florida.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said 36 Canadians had been flown out of Haiti by helicopter on Tuesday. The first flight was initially scheduled for Monday, but was postponed due to bad weather.
Recommended by Editorial
-
Canada evacuates vulnerable citizens from Haiti: Melanie Joly
-
‘Kids getting shot at school’: Albertan in Haiti describes horror as violence consumes country
“The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs couldn’t get me out because they’re doing it in Port-au-Prince or Cap-Haitien, and I’m on the west side of the island; I couldn’t drive to Port-au-Prince. The prince; “It’s too dangerous,” Honorat said.
Midday news summary
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
He said he received some communication from the embassy but they did not have a helicopter available to reach Grand Goave. “They have a lot of other Canadians on the other side of the island,” she said. “They are still there because they cannot be rescued, they cannot drive to go to the embassy.”
Canada plans to fly small groups of Canadians with valid passports to the Dominican Republic at no cost; however, individuals must cover accommodation and travel expenses back to Canada.
“I’m a little torn because I love my own people. I love Haiti, and knowing that many of them are still there and can’t get out of this situation, it’s really difficult,” Honorat said.
As of Monday, officials said there were approximately 3,000 people with connections to Canada who had voluntarily registered their presence in Haiti with the government.
Less than 300 had requested help to leave the country.
“Knowing that they are there, I don’t want anything to happen to them. So I’m praying for them and for the whole country, because Haiti needs help in that regard,” Honorat said.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“But I’m happy to be back with my family, they were really worried about me.”
Allen Speer, CEO of Agape Flights, said: “Today we will fly. “We have one of our planes today headed to Jacmel and Les Cayes and delivering 2,500 pounds of cargo.”
According to Speer, seven people will return on the same flight. “Next week we have two fights scheduled, and I believe both flights have returning passengers, many of whom will return eventually,” he said.
“But they really need to get out, some of them for medical reasons.”
The organization cannot fly to the capital because operational authority and security at national and international airports cannot be maintained.
“What you have are people who need safety and protection, and they really just want to have hope and help,” Speer said.
— With files from The Canadian Press
Article content