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Fuel shortages drive Haitians into the Dominican Republic for petrol

Fuel shortages drive Haitians into the Dominican Republic for petrol

Petrol pump

Facing acutefuelshortagesin their own country,Haitianstook a chance to cross the border into theDominicanRepublicin search ofpetrolon Monday.

Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around apetrolstation in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in theDominicanRepublic, on the border with Haiti.

Haitianscomplained they needfuelto survive, while police in theDominicanRepublictighten their grip on security.

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A dispute between Haiti and a USenergy trading firm has to lead to long blackouts andfuelshortagesin the Caribbean nation, feeding anger at President Jovenel Moise's government following the collapse of a supply deal with Venezuela last year.

The Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, Haiti long relied onfuelshipments from nearby OPEC member Venezuela, which offered cheap financing to several Caribbean nations to buy its gasoline, diesel and other products through a program called Petrocaribe.

But the scheme fell apart last year due to economic turmoil in Venezuela, forcing Haiti, a nation of 11 million people to return to international markets.

The result has put upward pressure on the prices of goods.