Haiti’s Main International Airport Reopens After Three-Month Closure Due to Gang Violence

On Monday, May 20th, Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince reopened for the first time in nearly three months following a shutdown due to severe gang violence. The reopening is expected to alleviate a critical shortage of medications and essential supplies, as the country’s main seaport remains non-operational. Currently, only Sunrise Airways, a local carrier, is flying in and out of the airport, with United States-based airlines expected to resume services by late May or early June.

The airport closure, which began in early March, was triggered by escalating gang violence that included the seizure of police stations, attacks on the airport, and the storming of prisons, which led to the release of over 4,000 inmates. The violence forced the U.S. government and nonprofit organizations to evacuate hundreds of citizens via helicopter from besieged neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince.

The reopening marks a significant step in restoring some normalcy to the region, although challenges remain. Roads leading from Port-au-Prince to the only other operational airport in Cap-Haitien are still controlled by gangs, making travel perilous. The violence has displaced thousands and resulted in over 2,500 casualties from January to March, according to the United Nations.

The recent violence left former Prime Minister Ariel Henry stranded outside Haiti while on an official trip to Kenya. Henry has since resigned, and a transitional presidential council is working to appoint a new prime minister, form a new Cabinet, and organize general elections.

In the meantime, the U.S. military has been delivering supplies to the airport, including medication and hydration fluids, in preparation for the arrival of international forces. Kenya is finalizing plans to deploy 1,000 police officers to assist in quelling the violence, with additional support expected from countries like the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh.

The airport’s reopening has been met with mixed emotions among the local population. Workers at the airport expressed relief at returning to work but also fear of potential further attacks. 

As Haiti continues to grapple with the fallout from the gang violence, the reopening of the main international airport represents a tentative step towards recovery, though significant challenges remain in restoring peace and stability to the nation.