After spending more than a week stranded in Haiti as rebels overran the nation’s main airport, WJR 760 host Mitch Albom has been evacuated from the island nation.
Albom was one of 10 people rescued from the country after gangs opposing the return of Prime Minister Ariel Henry to the country hoped that storming the airport would keep him from re-entering the country.
“Well, we‘re pretty grimy and exhausted, but after two days of coordinated efforts, a group of us from the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage, including my wife and myself, were evacuated in the middle of the night from a site in Haiti (not our orphanage),” Albom told the Detroit Free Press.
The longtime WJR 760 host, author, and newspaper columnist revealed he attempted to go through the “proper” channels to coordinate a rescue, but never heard back from U.S. officials. Ultimately, he utilized help from Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Cory Mills (R-FL) to be helicoptered out of the country.
“Since I was the one who asked these wonderful eight other volunteers to come help at our orphanage, I felt it my obligation to get them out safely,” he said. “But my wife’s and my heart aches for the kids still there. Saying goodbye to them this time was horribly difficult. We pray for help in making their country safe for them again and we will be back with them the moment it is possible. Our deepest thanks to everyone who sent messages and prayers for us. We were luckier than a lot of others. Please don’t forget about them.”
Mitch Albom was in the Caribbean country visiting an orphanage he started more than a decade ago. His Have Faith Haiti organization currently houses 60 children and 40 staff members, all of whom remain in the country amid the unrest.
