Location: Haiti
Events: The 2023 annual Carnival celebration began Wednesday, February 15 and will conclude early on Ash Wednesday, February 22. This year, official events have and will likely remain extremely limited; however, crowds of varying size with accompanying Rara bands are expected to hold spontaneous celebrations throughout the country and at any time. People participating in the celebration may wear Carnival masks, crowd around and block vehicles, bang on car windows, crack bull whips, display knives and machetes, fire guns in the air, and take part in what some may deem aggressive actions. Although this can be potentially unsettling; generally, Carnival celebrations remain non-violent. Under no circumstances should you attempt to forcibly drive through a Carnival the crowd.
Please also note that the U.S. Embassy will be closed on Monday, February 20 (U.S. Holiday- President’s Day) and for Carnival and Ash Wednesday on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Haiti has the highest (Level 4) Travel Advisory (“Do Not Travel”) for kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and COVID-19. The travel advisory for Haiti, available at travel.state.gov, notes that kidnapping is widespread and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens who travel to Haiti despite this warning to register their trip with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program . STEP is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate so that we can provide important security and other information to the U.S. citizen community in Haiti.
Actions to take:
Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.
When driving lock make sure your car doors are locked and windows up.
If possible, avoid driving at night.
Be alert to your surroundings and pay attending to people approaching your car while stopped in traffic.
Avoid public displays of wealth (nice car, jewelry, smartphones).
Assistance:
· U.S. Embassy Port au Prince, Haiti
· Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre
· Emergencies: +509-2229-8000
· Non-emergency inquiries: acspap@state.gov
· Website: https://ht.usembassy.gov/
· Contact the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs
· 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from the United States and Canada
· 1-202-501-4444 from other countries
· Haiti Country Information
· Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
· Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
