Usually, what the public sees in “do not travel” advisories issued by the United States is a brief summary of the content which goes straight to the point. But a closer look at the latest advisory on Haiti reveals the dramatic details on which it is based.

Last week, the State Department reissued an earlier level four advisory in which it added a “terrorism” indicator, saying: “Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care.”

These State Department travel advisories, meant to alert Americans on what they should be aware of when planning a trip, are based on four warning levels: Level 1 – exercise normal precautions; Level 2 – exercise increased caution; Level 3 – reconsider travel; and Level 4 – do not travel, as in the case of Haiti.

For sure, the travel advisory might have proven problematic because it severely contradicts the explanation given by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who said conditions in Haiti were safe for those under US Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to return home.

After court action, the DHS and State Department back-tracked on their deportation plan set for September 2, 2025 and acquiesced to allowing the estimated 500,000 Haitians to stay in the US until their TPS expires in February next year.

Given the severity of the July travel advisory on Haiti, we sense that it would take nothing short of a miracle for the state of affairs in that Caribbean Community country to have improved to the point at which the TPS will no longer be necessary.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that criminal groups killed at least 5,601 people and kidnapped nearly 1,500 in 2024. Survivors face severely limited or non-existent access to protection and care services. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced. There have been a reported 5,400 cases of gender-based violence, with 72 per cent involving sexual violence committed mostly by criminal groups.

“Children are among the hardest hit by the violence. Rising hunger and severe poverty have forced… thousands of children to join criminal groups, where they face abuse, including girls facing labour and sexual exploitation. Approximately half a million children live under the control of these groups,” the UN says.

Based on those and other horrifying conditions the US travel advisory warns in part:

“Kidnapping is widespread. US citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members. Mob killings and public assaults are on the rise. Local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to serious crimes.

“The Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited US air carrier flights to Port-au-Prince. Do not cross the border by land between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The US Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. The US Government is very limited in its ability to help US citizens in Haiti.

“Shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine, and medical supplies are common throughout the country.”

And perhaps the most foreboding of all:

“If you are travelling to Haiti… draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney, put your financial affairs in order.”