Postal Service Resumes International Mail To Haiti

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service resumed international mail service to the nation of Haiti as efforts to restore limited postal services gain momentum in the wake of the devastating earthquake in January that destroyed much of Haiti Post’s infrastructure and service capacity.

A temporary hold issued Jan. 15 for mail accepted for delivery to Haiti has been lifted, and air transport of international letters and packages from the U.S. has resumed, allowing mail volumes to begin flowing to Haiti as airlift and operational capacity expand. The U.S. Postal Service has continued to accept mail for Haiti and held it for delivery at five International Service Centers. Over 2,000 pounds of international mail will be entered into Haiti throughout the week.

The reopening of mail service from the U.S. to Haiti is part of a comprehensive effort to reestablish routine and secure service through national posts around the world, increasing the ability to transport shipments of food, supplies and other essentials.

“Establishing mail service for the people of Haiti is critical to the overall recovery effort,” said Pranab Shah, managing director and vice president, Global Business. “We are very pleased to resume transportation of mail into Port-au-Prince, and will continue to support the recovery efforts of Haiti Post.”

As part of a global response led by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations agency overseeing international mail exchanges, the U.S. Postal Service has provided vehicles, equipment and supplies to support Haiti Post in its efforts to reestablish service. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been involved extensively in these efforts and is continuing to provide security assessments, facility restoration planning and related expertise.

International mail services offered by the Postal Service to destinations in Haiti are Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, and First Class Mail International.

Customers can monitor the status of their shipments on usps.com or contact Customer Service at 1-800-222-1811. Additional information and updates are posted online at: International Service Updates.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.