Canada evacuates some embassy staff in Haiti as violence engulfs capital

Canada has evacuated a portion of its embassy staff from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by commercial helicopter charter due to rampant gang violence in the city.

In a written statement, Global Affairs Canada says that «due to the volatility of the security situation, the lack of reliable supplies and the need to support an effective presence in a volatile situation, Canada is temporarily drawing down to essential personnel at its embassy in Haiti.

»Relocated personnel will continue to fulfil their duties from a third country."

Some Canadian staff flew out of the capital this morning on a flight coordinated with the government of the Dominican Republic. Those staff members will now work from that country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Republic of Haiti.

Canada's Ambassador Andre-Francois Giroux remains at his post in Port-au-Prince.

Canada's staffing reduction follows a similar move by the U.S. on Sunday, which saw U.S. Marines escort a portion of Washington's diplomatic corps out of Haiti. Other Marines remained in Port-au-Prince to provide the remaining staff with additional protection.

In a tweet, the U.S. State Department cited «heightened gang violence in the neighborhood near U.S. embassy compounds and near the airport.»

German and EU diplomats also left Port-au-Prince on Monday. German Ambassador Peter Sauer and European Union Ambassador Stefano Gatto are believed to have departed by helicopter to the Dominican Republic, which granted them an exemption to cross a border that is officially closed to both ground and air traffic.

Close to 3,000 Canadian citizens are believed to be in Haiti, mostly in and around the capital. Global Affairs Canada has warned that evacuating them would be difficult. Port-au-Prince's