Bus drivers start 2-day strike in Haiti over fuel prices, stranding many across country

Residents run past a burning barricade set by public transportation drivers at the start a their two day strike over the cost of fuel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015. Unions representing drivers say the government's cuts to the regulated cost of diesel and gasoline do not go far enough given the drop in global oil prices. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

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A man throws a tire on a burning barricade at the start of a two-day strike by public transportation drivers over the cost of fuel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015. Unions representing drivers say the government's cuts to the regulated cost of diesel and gasoline do not go far enough given the drop in global oil prices. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

Students move past a burning barricade set by striking public transportation drivers at the start a their two day strike over the cost of fuel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Feb. 2, 2015. Unions representing drivers say the government's cuts to the regulated cost of diesel and gasoline do not go far enough given the drop in global oil prices. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) (The Associated Press)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Bus drivers in Haiti began a two-day strike Monday over the cost of fuel and many people were unable to get to work and school across the country.

Unions representing drivers said the government's cuts to the regulated cost of diesel and gasoline did not go far enough, given the drop in global oil prices. The government recently lowered the price of gasoline by about 25 cents to $4.50 a gallon and diesel by about 20 cents to $3.55.

Few people in impoverished Haiti have their own vehicle, so the strike caused major disruptions, especially in the overcrowded capital. Motorcycle taxis were operating but the streets were empty of the often brightly colored minibuses known as "tap taps."

Drivers set up flaming barricades of tires and other debris at a number of intersections in Port-au-Prince.

The U.S. Embassy advised its personnel to "shelter in place" due to the "large number of incidents of unrest in Port-au-Prince." It also urged U.S. citizens to avoid areas where protests were taking place, saying demonstrations in the city can escalate quickly.