Canada is temporarily withdrawing non-essential staff from its embassy in Haiti in response to a spike in gang-related violence in the country and a severe fuel shortage. And while Global Affairs Canada says the embassy in Port-au-Prince does remain open, all Canadians are being told to avoid non-essential travel to the country.
OTTAWA -- Canada is temporarily withdrawing non-essential staff from its embassy in Haiti in response to a spike in gang-related violence in the country and a severe fuel shortage.
The move to evacuate some Canadian diplomats and their families comes as Haiti's government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks. Defense Minister Enold Joseph said the government is investigating why 30 fuel tanks sent to Haiti's southern region went missing, adding that he has observed gasoline being sold on the black market.
The fuel shortage comes as Haiti is still recovering from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in July. It has threatened the country's water supply, which depends on generators, and hospitals in Port-au-Prince and beyond.
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