In Haiti, fuel shortages due to gangs rot daily life
A view of the city of the city of Jérémie in Haiti in August 2021 (Illustrative image) © Matias Delacroix/AP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The impact of crime in Port-au-Prince is felt even in the provinces, in particular due to the scarcity of fuel, with gangs often completely blocking access to the country's three oil terminals, all located in the metropolitan area. .
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Located far from Port-au-Prince, at the southwestern tip of the island, the city of Jérémie lives calmly.
Even more calmly than usual, because
the fuel shortage
is fierce there.
Prices soar on the black market and influence prices on the rest of the market.
“
With this situation, the prices of basic necessities have risen enormously in Jérémie,
testifies Yvon Janvier, teacher in the City of Poets
.
A pot of brown sugar, which I used to buy for 225 gourdes in the past, now costs almost 500 gourdes.
»
The public electricity company has never developed solar energy.
Everywhere in Haiti, the equation is therefore simple: no fuel, no power.
For those who cannot afford a private circuit, every ordinary daily gesture becomes a headache.
“
I have to get out of my house and see who, among my neighbors, can have current on batteries to charge my phone,
says Joseph Stevenson, in Jacmel
.
Not everyone has this kind of setup.
I live out of town, but sometimes I have to go all the way to the center to pick up some charge percentages.
Can you imagine that in the 21st century?
»
Fully aware of the difficulties of users, the EDH company is struggling to transport fuel to the provinces, especially in the south, because of the control that gangs have over the only road that leads to this half of the country.
► To read also: The UN takes a heavy toll on the violence in Cité Soleil
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Haiti
Oil
consumption
Company
Crime