From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Haiti Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 16:00:25 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1086 Path: world!root Message-ID: <960624160025_76702.1202_CHN50-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: root@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 126 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Haiti ============================================================ Haiti - Public Announcement June 22, 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release The U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince, Haiti, has issued the following notice: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified medicine, locally manufactured in Haiti, which causes acute renal failure and is fatal in most cases. The government of Haiti is taking action to withdraw the medicine and alert the population. There have been no cases reported in the American community. The American community is advised to avoid all locally manufactured pharmaceuticals until further notice. No. 96-hai Haiti - Consular Information Sheet May 30, 1996 Country Description: Haiti is one of the least developed countries in the Western Hemisphere. There are shortages of goods and services throughout the country. Entry Requirements: Haitian law requires a passport to enter. In practice, officials frequently waive this requirement if travelers have other documentation, such as a birth certificate, indicating they are American citizens. Due to fraud concerns, however, airlines will not board passengers for return to the U.S. unless they are in possession of a valid passport. For additional information regarding entry, tax and customs requirements for Haiti, contact the Haitian Embassy at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 332-4090, or Haitian consulates in Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois or Puerto Rico. Medical Facilities: Medical care in Port Au Prince is limited and the level of community sanitation is low. Medical facilities outside the capitol are almost always below U.S. standards. Life-threatening emergencies may require evacuation by air ambulance at the patient's expense. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. Travelers might wish to consider supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation. Additional health information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers' hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/. Crime Information: Reports of petty crime and robbery are increasing. Thefts and harassment of occupied vehicles along route Nationale 1 in the port area, Cite Soleil and near the industrial park by the airport continue to be a problem. Precautions include using alternate routes, being alert to surroundings and observing minimum safety practices, such as keeping their vehicle doors locked and items of value out of sight. Crime victims are often frustrated by the lack of response and enforcement capabilities of the local police and judiciary. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport overseas should be reported to the local police and the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy. Lost or stolen U.S. birth certificates and/or drivers licenses used as entry documents generally cannot be replaced outside the U.S. Areas of Instability: Haiti continues to experience occasional civil unrest, including unofficial roadblocks in all regions of the country. U.S. citizens have not been targeted in any demonstration-related incidents, but travelers are urged to use common sense in avoiding large crowds, which have been known to turn violent. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Criminal penalties for possession, use and dealing in illegal drugs are strict. Those accused of drug-related crimes can expect lengthy legal proceedings, irregular application of Haitian law, and delayed due process. If convicted, offenders may face long jail sentences and substantial fines. Traffic and Road Conditions: Despite recent efforts to improve road conditions, lack of repairs, pot holes, erosion and congestion remain problems. Civil Aviation Oversight: As a result of an assessment conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February 1995, the FAA has found the government of Haiti's Civil Aviation Authority to not be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Haitian air carrier operations. Operations to the U.S. by Haitian air carriers are not permitted unless they arrange to have their flights conducted by a carrier from a country meeting international aviation safety standards. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at (800) 322-7873. Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens in Haiti should register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy is located on Harry Truman Blvd., Port au Prince; telephone (509) 22-0200, 22-0354, 22-0368 or 22-0612; fax (509) 23-1641. The Consular Section is located on Rue Oswald Durand, Port au Prince; telephone (509) 23-7011 or 23-8971; consular annex fax (509) 23-9665. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information from the U.S. Embassy on travel and security within Haiti. No. 96-108 This replaces the the Consular Information Sheet dated December 5, 1995, to update Entry Requirements, Medical Facilities, Crime Information and Areas of Instability; and to include the section on Traffic and Road Conditions. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories