A child walks past a burning barricade during anti-government protests in Port-au-Prince on Sunday as Canadians continue to flee the violence. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Canadian nurses return safely from Haiti

Eight Canadian nurses returned home safely Monday, escaping the violence that has gripped Haiti.

Their return followed a series of weekend flights that saw Canadian missionaries, medical personnel, students and tourists make it home following–in some cases–days of waiting.

The nurses, the latest returnees, boarded a flight from Port-au-Prince to Montreal Monday afternoon.

Two remained in Montreal while the other six travelled to Toronto early Tuesday.

Tracey Hotta, a nurse from Ontario (centre), left Haiti on Monday with seven colleagues. All had been volunteering with Hope Grows Haiti, a charity that helps children orphaned and abandoned in the 2010 earthquake that devastated the country. (Facebook)

“It was a bittersweet departure,” one of the nurses, Tracey Hotta, told CBC News.

The nurses were airlifted by helicopter from a compound in the city of Grand Goave after protesters had blocked highways with burning tires.

The nurses had been volunteering with the Ontario-based organization Hope Grows in Haiti that helps children orphaned and abandoned from the massive earthquake that stuck the country in 2010.

Anti-government protests calling for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise because of skyrocketing inflation began nearly two weeks ago.

Violence has forced the closing of many schools and businesses.

With files from CBC, CTV, Global, CP

Categories: Health, International
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