CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. — A Camano Island family who runs a nonprofit in Haiti says they’re unable to leave the Caribbean island as violent gangs are jockeying for power.
Ryan and Jill Dolan of Camano Island have dedicated the last decade of their lives to Haiti. Through their nonprofit Love a Neighbor, they help run an orphanage—today, they’re desperate to leave it all behind.
“It is a place that unfortunately has its times like this where there’s a lot of violence,” Ryan Dolan said.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Do Not Travel Advisory for Haiti, calling the situation unpredictable and dangerous. They’re asking U.S. citizens in the country to leave as soon as possible and all who are still in the country to seek “privately available transportation options.”
This month, the country Haiti has fallen to violent gangs who’ve attacked prisons, police stations, and the nation's capital.
“It’s so hard to be patient, but we don’t really have any other choice. There is nowhere else to go,” said Jill Dolan via video call from an undisclosed location in Haiti.
Ryan Dolan happened to be in the U.S. at the time. His wife Jill and their three children, ages 14 to 20, are in hiding.
"I'm nervous," Ryan Dolan said. "I'm not feeling supported or hopeful that the U.S. government is going to come to our aid or help evacuate in a timely fashion."
The family members still in Haiti say all they can do is wait.
“Today we woke up with hope just because last night we slept well…there was no gunfire throughout the night,” Jill Dolan said.
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