Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Canada is airlifting vulnerable Canadians from Haiti by helicopter to the Dominican Republic as the situation in the country continues to deteriorate.

Haiti has been experiencing a deep security crisis since mid-2021, when gangs took control of key infrastructure and began violent wars that led to the collapse of most medical and food systems in the country.

Two weeks ago, the unelected Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign once a transitional council is formed to oversee the Kenya-led international military intervention.

Earlier this month, Canada airlifted most of its diplomats from its embassy in Port-au-Prince by helicopter and sent them to the neighboring Dominican Republic to work remotely due to the increasingly volatile security situation.

Officials said on March 14 that nearly 3,000 Canadians are officially registered as remaining in the country. Some have reportedly since left through private evacuation services.

Joly says Canada has so far airlifted 18 vulnerable Canadians out of the country.