From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Haiti Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 12:41:01 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1234 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <970210124101_76702.1202_CHN41-1@CompuServe.COM> Precedence: bulk Sender: bzs@world.std.com (daemons) Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 116 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Haiti ============================================================ Haiti - Consular Information Sheet February 7, 1997 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 the 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 capital 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. In mid-1996, the government ordered Haitian-manufactured pharmaceuticals taken off shelves following the suspicious deaths of Haitian children from renal failure. Nonetheless, U.S. citizens should be alert to the presence of Haitian brands in people's homes or in remote pharmacies. 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 crime, including armed and sometimes violent robbery, are increasing. Some U.S. citizens have been victims of criminal incidents, although these crimes do not appear to be aimed specifically at foreigners. Among recent problems is the breaking and entering of homes immediately following the return of a resident from a trip abroad. Crimes involving occupied and unoccupied vehicles along Route Nationale No. 1, in the port area, in Cite Soleil, and along the airport road continue to be a problem. U.S. citizens should exercise precautions against crime, including the use of alternate routes, being alert to surroundings, avoiding showing large amounts of cash in public, favoring private over public transportation, keeping home and vehicle doors locked, and keeping valuables 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 nearest U.S. consulate. 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. There have been attacks on some government buildings by unidentified perpetrators. U.S. citizens have not been targeted in any of these attacks or 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. The Department of Defense does not permit U.S. military personnel to use carriers from Haiti for official business except in extenuating circumstances. 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; fax (509) 23-9665. U.S. citizens may obtain updated information from the U.S. Embassy on travel and security within Haiti. No. 97-015 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 28, 1996, to update crime information. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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