The State Department has evacuated nonessential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti as the security situation continues to deteriorate, a report said Sunday.
U.S. Marines were also flown into the capital to help reinforce defenses at the embassy, according to a statement by the U.S. Southern Command reported on by several news outlets.
"This airlift of personnel into and out of the embassy is consistent with our standard practice for embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft," the statement said, according to the Miami Herald.
Armed gangs have been rampaging across the metropolitan area and reportedly control more than 80% of the capital.
In many cases, nonessential personnel can include the families of diplomats, but the embassy had already ordered departure for nonessential staff and all family members in July, the Associated Press reported.
As the statement noted, "No Haitians were on board the military aircraft." There are concerns that senior government officials are trying to flee the country.
Haiti has been in a state of emergency since March 3.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for a U.N.-backed mission in Haiti, Reuters reported.
Kenya planned to lead the force but it remains on hold due to domestic issues in the African country.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis on Saturday.
Caribbean leaders planned an emergency meeting Monday in Jamaica to discuss Haiti's "dire" situation. The United States is among the countries invited to take part.
Police in Port-au-Prince attempted Saturday to retake some streets after gangs attacked at least three police stations. The gangs have paralyzed the country and left it with dwindling supplies of basic goods.
