State will attempt to assist Floridians and family members amid Haitian crisis • Florida Phoenix
Florida state government has opened an online portal to allow Floridians in Haiti to register for assistance amid the violent unrest in that country.
“Floridians in Haiti or their family members can fill out the questionnaire on the portal to let the state know of immediate needs. You can visit the portal at FloridaDisaster.Org/Haiti,” the Division of Emergency Management said Thursday in a press release.
“We will do everything possible to help Floridians and Americans who are in need of help in Haiti,” division Director Kevin Guthrie said. “I encourage those with needs to visit the portal today.”
On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered members of the Florida National Guard, Florida State Guard, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to South Florida to interdict any Haitians fleeing their country by sea.
The DeSantis administration has intervened in overseas crises before — following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the governor declared a state of emergency in Florida to facilitate an airlift of Floridians from the Middle East.
Also on Thursday, the Miami Herald reported that the Royal Caribbean cruise line had suspended port calls in Labadee, a resort it owns in Haiti. “We have not had any security concerns; this was done out of abundance of caution,” spokesman Jonathon Fishman, told the newspaper.
The chaos in Haiti has been building since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Prime Minister Ariel Henry took over running the country, which hasn’t seen an election since 2016. A criminal gang confederation has been attacking government, financial, and other targets amid reports of murder, sexual violence and kidnapping, according to a USA Today report.
