The Dominican Republic government told one of the country’s largest newspapers on Thursday that the United Nations had not been consulted about creating a “humanitarian air bridge” to send supplies and relief workers to Haiti.
The apparent lack of communication between the United Nations and the Dominican Republic comes after Santo Domingo rejected a request by U.N. officials to halt mass deportations of Haitians living in the country illegally. This shows that a rift is emerging in the relationship between the United States and Caribbean governments. In response to calls not to deport illegal immigrants, Dominican government officials have closed the land border with Haiti, arguing that not allowing illegal immigrants to remain is a matter of “national security” for the country. It recommended that the United Nations demand further action from countries that do not share the same.
Haiti has been mired in gang violence for decades, but the government has been in unprecedented turmoil since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021. Haiti has not had a president since then, and unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry remains unidentified. There is no public support and few resources to curb gang violence. Mr Henry left the country in early March for a trip to Kenya, where he asked President William Ruto to send police officers on a UN-sanctioned Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. Upon Henri’s departure, an armed militia led by notorious gang boss Jimmy “Barbeque” Chéridier storms the prison, frees as many as 4,000 criminals, and lays siege to Port-au-Prince’s airport to prevent Henri from returning. made possible.
Ariel Henry (VALERIE BAERISWYL/AFP via Getty Images)
Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico, leaving his gang to rule the country. He announced that he would resign on Monday, after the creation of an “interim presidential council”, which has become a major issue in the country. Several Haitian power brokers and “barbeques” oppose the plan. threatening Killing the children of those who support it.
Gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Chéridier and members of the G-9 coalition gang in the Delmas 3 neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on February 22, 2024. (Giles Clarke/Getty Images)
The United Nations on Wednesday announced a plan to combat ongoing illegal activity in Haiti, creating a “bridge in the sky” to transport staff, food and medicine into the country and evacuate non-emergency personnel. And so. United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) issued The statement made the plan seem like a fait accompli, promising that “the air corridor will enable the transport of aid supplies and ensure the safe relocation of domestic and international personnel.”
statement read:
united nations [in Haiti] An air bridge is being built between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This air bridge will ensure the seamless delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance services to Haiti and facilitate the movement of personnel within and outside the country.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: “The air bridge between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, announced on Wednesday, will be opened as soon as possible to send humanitarian aid to the Haitian people who are victims of the grave crisis. It should be operational.” Said Reporters on Thursday.
Dujarric called for “at least $10 million” in international funding for the effort, lamenting that “we are not getting the funding we need to put the mission together.”
Men on motorcycles pass a burning tire during a demonstration following Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 12, 2024. (CLARENS SIFFROY/AFP via Getty Images)
Listin Diarioone of the largest newspapers in the Dominican Republic, reached We asked the government of President Luis Abinader about Santo Domingo’s role in the construction of the Bridge in the Sky. Presidential Spokesperson Homero Figueroa insisted the government did not have one.
“The United Nations has not asked the Dominican Republic for a humanitarian bridge,” Figueroa said in his message. listin He is described as “simple.” The report does not explain how it is possible for the UN to establish a “bridge in the sky” without cooperating with the Dominican government.
Dujarric had already angered Dominican leaders with statements discouraging Haitians from entering the country illegally.
“We don’t want to force or deport large numbers of people to countries that are obviously unsafe,” Dujarric stressed.
The country’s foreign minister, Roberto Álvarez, issued a lengthy statement rejecting a UN request not to deport the individuals in question, citing the country’s “national security.”
“While we respect the opinion of Mr. Stephane Dujarric, we have a well-established policy in the national interest to return to Haiti all those illegally present in Dominican territory in accordance with our laws,” Álvarez said. Stated.
“The situation in Haiti is a national security issue for the Dominican Republic and we need to keep that in mind,” the foreign minister continued. “Therefore, I can understand what Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric would ask of other countries, countries that are not Haiti’s neighbors.”
A police officer points a gun at demonstrators during a demonstration calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 7, 2024. (RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)
President Luis Abinader has made the fight against illegal immigration a core policy of his government. the beginning The border wall with Haiti will be built in February 2022. Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola. Abinader’s government announced that the total length of the wall would be about 250 miles, or half the length of the border.
In addition to the wall, construction of perimeter fencing continues in areas where the government does not plan for stronger barriers. A local resident on the Haitian border said: Listin Diario On Wednesday, they said they were grateful for the barriers that prevent criminal activity from entering the country.
“We were living like lawless goats here because there was nothing to tell us about it.” [where the border is] And now we have a wall that sends a message to everyone,” says local businessman Hector Kilderes Taveras. Said Listin.
The president of the Federation of Merchants in Dajabon, a Dominican border municipality, similarly expressed support for the community to build stronger barriers with Haiti.
“We support this effort to build border gates because it creates some order, not just in terms of commerce but also other things that surfaced when things were open skies.” [borderless]” the man, Freddy Morillo, told the newspaper.
