Florin Hossu // Credits: GUERINAULT LOUIS / ANADOLU / ANADOLU VIA AFP
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6:43 p.m., March 30, 2024
243 French nationals, but also foreigners, were repatriated from Haiti to Martinique. A vast operation led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the armed forces in the Antilles. The majority of these 243 “survivors” are due to arrive this Saturday noon in Paris by a special flight.
An evacuation full of dangers. 243 French nationals but also German, Japanese, English and Haitian nationals were repatriated from Haiti this Friday to Martinique. A vast operation led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the armed forces in the Antilles. Three warships were chartered for the occasion and the nationals were evacuated by helicopter from Port-au-Prince in particular. The majority of these 243 “survivors” are due to arrive this Saturday noon in Paris by a special flight. Europe 1 met these people still shocked by the evacuation.
“We were shot at in the helicopter. I was really there where the bullet landed,” testifies a national. Images forever engraved in the memory of Alicia, a young French woman who worked in Port-au-Prince. Like her, dozens of families were forced to make the decision to leave everything within a few hours. “We had two or three days, we had to say whether we were leaving or not. For the children it is important to shelter them,” explains with emotion Sylvie, a Haitian married to a Frenchman.
Maintain hope
Despite her sadness, Sylvie tries to be positive: “We are lucky to have in-laws there, so we are not going into the unknown. We already have a pied-à-terre, we go to their house and then we’ll see”. Around her, in this gymnasium transformed into an emergency reception center, many want to thank the French government. “When we know that we are in a boat that comes from France, we know that we are saved from what could happen to us,” indicates Jean. Three warships and several hundred soldiers were mobilized to carry out this operation in Fort-de-France.