Haitian police were continuing an operation on Thursday to unblock the country’s most important oil terminal, which has been under the control of armed gangs for several months, paralysing fuel distribution.
“The operation had begun the day before. We managed to take control of the facilities on Thursday,” a police source assured AFP.
“We will continue the operation to clear the roads.” Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area throughout the day, but police said they had not yet reported any deaths or injuries among members of the armed groups.
While a government source also confirmed that a police operation was underway, authorities have not officially commented.
The Varreux oil terminal, located southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, supplies most of the petroleum products consumed in Haiti.
He had fallen under the hand of gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, nicknamed “Barbecue”, on September 12.
The blockage of the infrastructure had since led to a virtual paralysis of the country, aggravating the security, political and humanitarian crisis in this poor Caribbean country.
The lack of fuel has also interrupted the distribution of drinking water, which is crucial in the fight against cholera, the incidence of which has recently exploded in Haiti.
Discussions are underway at the United Nations regarding the possible dispatch of an international armed force to the country, following a call from the Haitian government.
