In a dramatic flight from chaos, Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom and a group of volunteers were successfully airlifted out of strife-torn Haiti, reports FOX 2 Detroit. The extraction, which included Albom's wife Janine Sabino and eight volunteers from the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage, took place under the cover of darkness orchestrated by Congress members Lisa McClain and Cory Mills, in a helicopter escape that Albom recounted was "very, very fast, very, very hectic."
Amidst severe gang violence that has gripped Haiti, Albom and his companions found themselves trapped, with Albom noting their departure, supposed to have been on the preceding Saturday, was barred by a city besieged; airports, seaports, and roads had been blocked, according to an NBC News interview. Albom's monthly visit to the orphanage, run by his charity which aids in providing nourishment and education, turned into an extended peril due to the escalating conflict that also prompted Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce his resignation.
While safety returned for Albom and the Michigan group, the author emphasized his concern for those left behind, including both foreigners and locals stranded amidst the turmoil. In a social media statement quoted by CBS News Detroit, Albom expressed his heartfelt worry: "My wife and I are safe tonight. Many Americans, Canadians, and others who are still stuck are not," calling attention to the plight of the Haitian people for whom such a means of escape is not an option.
The dire situation in Haiti saw law enforcement outposts and civilian infrastructures engulfed in the violence that, as FOX 2 Detroit recounted, Albom described witnessing police stations being set on fire, making the recent period of unrest and criminal dominance one of the worst he has observed. With sheer desperation, half the country is facing food insecurity, and 1.4 million Haitians are reported to be on the brink of starvation, a grasp of regular life eludes the grasp of many in the embattled nation.
The successful evacuation mission was touched upon during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, where Rep. Lisa McClain laid out her criticisms against the current administration's handling of the crisis; she alongside Rep. Cory Mills coordinated the night-time rescue operation. Meanwhile, the U.S. Southern Command has deployed a fleet-anti-terrorism security team to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince to maintain stability and support embassy staff, NBC News reported, underscoring the volatile situation on the ground even as political transitions are underway.
