Americas
Destination Report: Haiti
By JoAnne Green
September 18, 2008

Travel condition

According to a report issued by the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti  on September 17, 2008, cities and towns in the Artibonite, Center, South, Southeast, North, and Nippes Departments were the hardest hit by the flooding, which caused severe loss of life, catastrophic destruction, as well as loss of livestock and crops. The three storms seriously damaged an already weak infrastructure that existed in the Artibonite prior to the heavy rains, especially in the city of Gonaives and its environs. Few roads in these areas are passable, even by large trucks, and most bridges are either severely damaged or completely destroyed.  Although the Grand Anse, North, and Northeast Departments suffered less damage than the other regional Departments from the flooding, many lives were lost and many roads and bridges were damaged in these areas as well.

Foreign visitors should avoid the regions most severely affected by the flooding and be prepared for travel delays in other parts of the country.  

People are currently staying in temporary shelters across the country. Limited ground transport is resulting in increased fuel shortages. In spite of the enormous international relief effort under way, there are also sporadic incidents of fighting related to food needs. 

The United States, United Nations, and others in the international community are providing international relief assistance to meet both immediate and long-term needs. 

Travel Advisories

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs gives the following advice Australians who are traveling, working or living in Haiti: “Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas, organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy.”

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office gives the following advice British people who are traveling, working or living in Haiti: “We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.”

The Canadian Foreign Affairs Office gives the following advice to Canadians who are traveling, working or living in Haiti: “Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. Out-of-country healthcare can be costly, and your health plan will cover only part of the bill at best. It is your responsibility to obtain supplementary travel insurance and understand the terms of your policy. Some credit card companies offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume that coverage is automatically included or that the card alone provides adequate coverage.”

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade gives the following advice to New Zealanders “New Zealanders travelling or resident in Haiti should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place that include provision for medical evacuation by air.”

The U.S. Department of State gives the following advice to Americans who are traveling, working or living in Haiti: “We strongly urge you to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation and overseas medical services. Please keep in mind that Medicare does not cover any illness or injury that occurs outside of the United States.”

How We Can Help

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