Violent unrest in Haiti leaves U.S. church groups stranded
The bulletin was short and to the point. “Embassy personnel are still under a Shelter in Place order,” the dispatch read. “Do not attempt to travel at this time.”
The missive — sent to all U.S. State Department employees in Haiti — came as a crisis unfolded in Portau-Prince.
The chaos started Friday, when the government announced its plan to raise prices on gasoline, diesel and kerosene. The proposal would have nearly doubled the cost of fuel.
The hike was prompted by the International Monetary Fund, which pushed Haitian officials to reduce government subsidies for fuel. Officials also agreed to increase social services spending, improve infrastructure and do a better job of collecting taxes.
In response, many Haitians rioted. Activists set up flaming roadblocks, bringing travel around the city to a standstill. Looters raided supermarkets and other stores. Others targeted hotels and businesses, according to Reuters. In a report, they wrote that the capital was been “paralyzed.” At least seven people were killed.
American Airlines, which had canceled 10 flights since Saturday, said three of its planes had left Sunday from Port-auPrince and the northern city of Cap-Haitien bound for Miami and New York. Dozens of people remained stranded at the airport in Port-au-Prince, unable to return to their hotels or other accommodations due to the blockage of streets and lack of transportation.
The cancellation of flights stranded church groups and volunteers from a number of U.S. states, including South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
That has left dozens of Americans stuck.
A youth group from Bradenton, Fla., was stopped at a roadblock on their way to the Port-au-Prince airport. Executive Pastor Dewayne McFarlin told Reuters that armed men stopped the caravan of teenagers, demanding payment in exchange for safe passage.
McFarlin and his team managed to talk their way through, he said. But just a few miles later, they came upon another group of armed protesters burning tires.
“They weren’t government or police,” McFarlin said. “Just people taking advantage of the situation.”
According to local news reports, several other church groups are in a similar situation. One member of Chapin United Methodist Church in South Carolina posted online that the organization’s mission team is “safe but stranded.”