US government asks its citizens in Haiti to leave the country amid heighten disturbance

The United States government has requested its citizens to leave Haiti as the Caribbean country witnesses deepening insecurity and suffers fuel crisis which has affected the operations of schools, hospitals and banks.

The US State Department, while giving warning to its citizens, cited, “Widespread fuel shortages might limit the essential services in an emergency, including access to – banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet & telecommunications, and public and private transportation options”. The number of US citizens living in Haiti is yet not specific.

While on Tuesday, in a media conference, the Haitian administration, while acknowledging the issue of fuel shortage in the country, noted that the government is making efforts to take control of the situation.

The condition of the most impoverished nation in the Caribbean region is getting worse day by day as the island battles with the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing gang violence, murders, political instability, fuel crisis, hunger crisis and poverty.

Haitians are feeling helpless; even the COVID-19 vaccination rate of the island nation is very low. The lives of patients are at stake, while parents are not able to send their children to schools.

Pierre Alex, a 35-year-old citizen while in conversation with a media house, asserted that everything in their lives had been turned upside down”.

“My son isn’t able to go to school but can’t work at home either because there is no power and no internet. I do not know what saints to call upon to come to help me.”

The gangs have blocked the access of fuel to the hospitals, banks and schools. Among the 11 million population of Haiti, about 60 percent earns below $2 on a daily basis.

On the other hand, Canada also issued a similar warning to its citizens, citing that, “If you are in Haiti and your presence isn’t essential, consider leaving if you can do so safely”.