Canada and the United States have recommended their nationals living in Haiti plan to leave the country, where armed gangs are expanding their power, causing a severe fuel shortage.
“The State Department urges American citizens to plan their departure from Haiti now through commercial channels,” read the message from the American embassy in Port-au-Prince published overnight Wednesday through Thursday, adding that ‘it would be “unlikely” for it to be able to help its nationals if trade options were to fail.
“The situation is deteriorating and changing rapidly. If you are in Haiti and your presence is not essential, consider leaving if you can do so safely, ”for its part announced the Canadian embassy in an email sent Wednesday to its citizens.
The gangs, which dominate much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, are blocking the roads leading to the oil terminals, disrupting the fuel supply for several months.
“Widespread fuel shortages can limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, emergency medical care, the Internet and telecommunications, as well as public transportation and private, ”states the US Embassy.
Extended control
Telecommunications networks and the media have already drastically reduced their activities across the country because they could not find fuel for the thermal generators that supply the antennas with electricity.
Banks are now only open three days a week, causing endless queues in front of branches.
This energy crisis also handicaps the functioning of the rare hospital structures in Haiti.
Long confined to the poor districts of the capital, the armed bands have, in recent months, extended their control and increased the number of villainous kidnappings.
One of the country’s most powerful gangs threatened to kill the group of missionaries and their families – 16 US citizens and one Canadian citizen – kidnapped on October 16 east of Port-au-Prince if he didn’t was not getting the demanded US $ 17 million in ransom.