Ghost of Scarcity Haunts Port-au-Prince

The ghost of shortages roams the streets of Port-au-Prince among bleeding or burned corpses, accompanied by the sound of automatic weapons, which remain unmuffled in the convulsed capital of Haiti.

A brief walk with the utmost caution through the metropolitan area is enough to make the lack of basic products visible, and the few that remain on sale have a much higher price compared to weeks ago.

Gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince and their tentacles reach as far as the maritime terminal area, preventing the operation of the Caribbean Port Services (CPS) company, which brings together most of the maritime agents and terminal operators of the capital’s port.

According to CPS, no ships have been received since March 5, and the container base has been looted by thugs. Maritime operations have been irregular since the end of 2023 and the reduction is close to 50%, as cargo ships do not dock due to insecurity.

In this context, the French shipping company CMA CGM – the third-largest container carrier in the world – canceled its call in the Haitian capital until further notice.

Likewise, the Varreux oil terminal continues to be besieged by gangs, which prevent the transfer of fuel, now resold at very high prices due to the deficit of gas stations.

On the other hand, the United Nations World Food Program warned that Haiti is closer to famine every day. “Haitians are on the verge of collapse: one out of every two people is going hungry today,” Jean-Martin Bauer, director of that institution in the country, said. (Taken from Orbe)