New Haiti Travel Warning Issued

The U.S. State Department has revised its warning against travel to Haiti issued in November 2005. The new warning indicates that while conditions in Haiti have improved somewhat, the Caribbean island nation remains a dangerous place for travelers.

Potential problems include spontaneous protests and public demonstrations, which could turn violent, the State Department says. "Visitors and residents must remain vigilant due to the absence of an effective police force in much of Haiti; the potential for looting; the presence of intermittent roadblocks set by armed gangs or by the police; and the possibility of random violent crime, including carjacking and assault," the warning states. "Kidnapping for ransom remains a serious threat, with more than 50 American citizens, including children, kidnapped over the past year."

Parts of downtown Port-au-Prince are dangerous during the day, and the city is off-limits to U.S. Embassy staff at night.