Conflicts & War

Hundreds throng gas stations after weeks-long shortage in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Oct 31 (EFE).- Hundreds of people Sunday thronged the few gas stations in Port-au-Prince that have received fuel after weeks of shortages.

People have been queuing up since Sunday night at a gas station at Carrefour Aéroport, one of the few neighborhoods in the capital where the supply trucks have arrived, resulting in a very long line of vehicles.

However, the sale of fuel has not yet begun due to fears that the removal of barricades from the stations could lead to violence despite police deployment.

Frémond Dumond, a college student who had been at the station since 4 am, told EFE that, after several weeks of shortages, “there are not many gas stations supplying fuel. Maybe, two or three, including this one.”

“This puts the gas station at risk. It can be torched and people can die. This makes the stations reluctant to supply fuel,” he said.

Before fuel was supplied to these stations, it was sent to several hospitals in a critical situation due to a lack of diesel to run their generators.

In fact, 50 hospitals across the country were forced to suspend their services due to the shortage resulting from a blockade of fuel distribution by armed gangs.

Over the last few days, the Haitian National Police has been escorting tankers to ensure their safety.

The lack of fuel has caused even more chaos in the country, already experiencing a major crisis of violence.

Violence in the country has intensified following a brief truce by armed groups after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7 and an earthquake in southern Haiti on Aug. 14. EFE

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