A group of Canadian missionaries who have been stranded in Haiti after being caught in the crossfire of violent protests have begun a dramatic escape, the group says.
Working on behalf of Haiti Arise, the group of 24 were stranded in a compound near Grand Goave, around 50 miles west of the capital city Port-Au-prince.
They were originally hoping to return home to Alberta on Wednesday, but an increase in already fearsome riots and police clashes in the region stifled their plans.
The compound was secure but the missionaries say there were running dangerously low on food - and drastic action needed to be taken.
Despite the frightening circumstances, the Haiti Arise team were all smiles as they eagerly awaited extraction to Port-Au-Prince Airport on Saturday
Protests turned violent on the Carribbean Island last week, as angry demonstrators call of the president to resign
Overturned cars and burning tires litter the streets. The Canadian embassy closed its doors because of the chaos, leaving the group stranded
'We have nowhere to go, roads are blocked, rioting all over the streets and businesses are being destroyed', one of the members said in a video on Friday.
'We do have a team here and we have been trying to get them out and it has been totally impossible.'
James Roberts, the group's vice-president, says they were set to be airlifted from the compound an airport in Port-Au-Prince on Friday.
But further escalating tensions delayed the extraction by another 24 hours.
As of Saturday afternoon, the first nine members have been transported to the airport via helicopter and eight of them have boarded a flight to Florida.
The remaining 15 members will be hauled to the airport in staggered groups and should all be able to board flights by the end of the afternoon.
'Our first group of nine got lifted to the airport and 8 got on the 9:40 flight out of Haiti,' Haiti Arise
