Dominican Republic - September 2023

The construction by Haiti of an irrigation canal in a river shared with the Dominican Republic has caused tension among both countries. The Dominican government argues that such construction is contrary to a joint declaration issued years prior about the shared nature of the river, and the right of both nations to access it. Calling it a “provocation”, the Dominican Republic decreed the closure of its land, air and maritime borders, and announced the suspension of visas to Haitians.  

The closure impacts the serious humanitarian situation in Haiti, as around a quarter of food in that country is imported from the Dominican Republic and significant amounts of medical and other supplies also come from the latter. Experts have also noted that while the closure will more likely impact Haiti the most, Dominican workers and business will also be affected. The UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Haiti has questioned the compatibility of this measure with human rights and called on the Dominican Republic to reconsider; it further called the government to end ill treatment and forced return of migrants to Haiti. 

Sources: United Nations, The New York Times,   Diario Libre