Since the border was closed (March 19) and the state of health emergency declared in the Dominican Republic due to the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the measures of which consisted in closing all non-essential businesses in construction sites, hotels and all public transport at the national level where thousands of Haitians work as well as a curfew from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am 4,192 Haitians have already left the Dominican Republic voluntarily after losing their job to return to Haiti, reported the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Haitians, who mainly live in the informal sector, find it extremely difficult to feed their families, especially since the economic support measures announced by the Dominican government to help the most disadvantaged populations are not accessible to Haitian migrants, whose many are in an irregular migration situation.

Although the border is closed on the Dominican side, it opens a few minutes a day to allow the passage of Haitians who wish to return to their country. A return that causes crowds to the border of Dajabón, where our compatriots rush, queuing at the border gates, increasing the risk of spread of the Covid-19.

Almost all of the compatriots have passed since March 19 through the border point of Dajabón (North-West).

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30437-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30421-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30364-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30349-haiti-social-more-than-1-000-haitians-left-the-dr-voluntarily.html

SL/ HaitiLibre