Haiti police say gang blockade of fuel terminal is over

Haitian police have taken control of a fuel terminal that had been blocked by armed gangs since September, the government said.

"The government congratulates the Haitian National Police for the professionalism it showed today, in retaking control of the Varreux terminal that was under the control of armed men," the office of Prime Minister Ariel Henry said in a statement.

A police source cited by AFP news agency said officers had seized the facilities and would "continue the operation to clear the roads."

No casualties were mentioned by the government or police. 

According to the government, the fuel will be available on Monday after weeks of shortages that have sparked a humanitarian crisis in this poor Caribbean country.

Who blocked the terminal?

The Varreux oil terminal, southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, supplies most of the oil products used in Haiti.

A group of gangs known collectively as the G9 blocked the entrance to the site in September, and the terminal then came under the control of gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed "Barbecue."

The blockade of the facility led to a virtual paralysis of the country and deepened the security, political and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. The lack of fuel has also disrupted the distribution of drinking water, vital in the fight against cholera.

Talks are underway at the United Nations about the possibility of sending an international armed force to restore calm after an appeal from the Haitian government.

US, Canada sanction Haitian politicians over gang ties

On Friday, the US and Canadian government jointly sanctioned two Haitian politicians, accusing them of supporting the country's armed drug gangs.

The fresh sanctions against Senate President Joseph Lambert and former president of the Chamber Youri Latortue will result in the freeze of all their assets in the US and Canada.

Both Canada's Foreign Ministry and the US Treasury accused the duo of using their status to aide armed gangs, though without naming the gangs.

“Joseph Lambert and Youri Latortue have abused their official positions to traffic drugs and collaborated with criminal and gang networks to undermine the rule of law in Haiti,” said Brian E. Nelson, the under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the US Treasury.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly stressed her country "will not remain idle while gangs and those who support them terrorize Haiti’s citizens."

Both countries vowed to continue with further sanctions against those who facilitate drug trafficking, violence and insecurity in Haiti.

dh/nm (AFP, Reuters)