200 Haitian families voluntarily returned or officially deported from the Dominican Republic, installed in the border town of Anse-a-Pitre (Southeast) on the hosting site of Fond Jeannette (94 families) and on the site of Tête à l’eau (106 families) are living in inhuman conditions under torn tents or shelters made of cardboard, straw and tarpaulin, still awaiting an intervention by the Haitian authorities to relocate them.

The Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR) has provided assistance to these families left on their own, recently distributing hygiene kits and food (peas, oil, sugar, oats, spaghetti, rice, milk).

A relief for the families of these sites «We are pleased to receive this food and hygiene kits that will help us feed our children and to take care of our bodies. Because sometimes we spend several days without finding anything to eat," said a mother.

"We appreciate the gesture of GARR who thinks to us, who are left to ourselves in this space where hunger is killing us. We hope that other humanitarian organizations will soon do the same," said another returnee.

Like many others, returnees criticize the Haitian government which did nothing to improve the lives of those returning from the Dominican Republic "We stagnate in this misery since our return to Haiti in July 2015. The Haitian authorities did not really manifested to get us out of this impasse. They are absent when we most need their support."

GARR urges the Haitian authorities to take urgent action to accompany these compatriots, who returned from the Dominican territory and guarantee their rights, while considering a strategy for relocating them with dignity.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15214-haiti-social-haitians-back-from-dr-in-difficulties.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15185-haiti-social-inhumane-living-conditions-for-haitians-back-from-dr.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-15060-icihaiti-social-the-government-abandons-the-returnees-to-their-fate.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14859-haiti-humanitarian-the-government-unable-to-meet-the-needs-of-haitians-returning.html

Thumbnail photo : Camp Fond Jeannette

HL/ HaitiLibre