On the first State Department charter airplane, scores of US citizens leave Haiti.

TFD – Dozens of US citizens depart Haiti on the first State Department charter flight amidst escalating violence and unrest.

Several US nationals depart Haiti on the first State Department charter aircraft.

In the inaugural State Department charter flight, dozens of US citizens depart from Haiti.

On the first State Department charter flight, dozens of US citizens leave Haiti.

On the first State Department charter airplane, scores of US citizens leave Haiti.

Several US nationals depart Haiti on the first State Department charter aircraft.

In the inaugural State Department charter flight, dozens of US citizens depart from Haiti.

“It is risky to travel by land from Port-au-Prince to Cap Haitien. Only if you are confident that you can get to Cap-Haitien airport securely do we advise you to take the Cap-Haitien flight. We are unable to offer overland transportation to Cap-Haitien from other regions of Haiti,” the message read.

According to security officials, the crisis in Haiti started to worsen at the beginning of this month when opposing gangs started causing coordinated damage. The gangs were pressuring Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down. Last Thursday, Henry announced he would do so after a transitional council—which has not yet been established—was established.

According to U.N. estimates, gangs currently control eighty percent of Port-au-Prince.

Police have attempted to retaliate, but they are resource-constrained and have been the targets of violence; in the last two weeks, multiple police stations have been attacked or set on fire.

Even while the police have made an effort to fight back, they are underfunded and have been the focus of violence; in the last two weeks, multiple police stations have been set on fire or attacked.