Haitian unions go on strike over safety concerns

Thousands of workers stayed home, businesses closed, and schools shuttered their doors across Haiti on Monday. Public transportation mostly halted because drivers refused to show up for work, urging the government to address rising gang violence. A few taxi drivers in Port-au-Prince tried to pick up fares but faced burning tire barricades and protesters throwing rocks. The strike comes two days after 12 adults and five children affiliated with an Ohio Christian aid group were abducted by the violent 400 Mawozo gang. Haitian workers said they will stay home until the government can ensure their safety.

What is the status of the missionaries? The U.S. State Department and the FBI are still working with the Haitian government for their release. The gang is believed to have abducted several truck drivers from the Dominican Republic last month and is still holding them hostage. The group typically demands tens of thousands of dollars in ransom money, according to the Center for Analysis and Research for Human Rights. Reported kidnappings have skyrocketed in Haiti in 2021 as the country struggles with political and economic instability and natural disasters.

Dig deeper: Listen to humanitarian worker Dr. David Vanderpool discuss aid efforts amid growing violence in Haiti on The World and Everything in It podcast.