US Urges Its Citizens to Leave Haiti amid Gas Shortages

The U.S. government called on its citizens, on Thursday, to evacuate Haiti as the country suffers from gas shortages, gang violence and political instability.

“The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now via commercial means,” the agency said. “Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options.”

The Caribbean country of 11.4 million people has been seized by gang violence that has only escalated since the July 7 murder of President Jovenel Moise.

“The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist U.S. citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable,” the State Department pointed out.

A group of U.S. missionaries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gangs on October 16 and are being held for ransom.

Gang members kidnapped 17 American Christian missionaries and their families, including children, in  Port-au-Prince, media outlets reported, noting that the missionaries were abducted after leaving an orphanage in the crisis-plagued Caribbean country.