Caribbean News
UN agency calls for an end to DEPORTATION of Haitians
By Sherrica Thompson
Staff Writer
#Haiti, November 14, 2022 – As the crisis in Haiti continues to unfold, the Office of The High Commissioner for Human Rights is urging countries in the region, including the Dominican Republic, to halt the deportation of Haitian migrants in light of the country’s unrest.
In a statement on Thursday, November 10, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, while renewing his call for a halt to the deportation of Haitians, said he was disturbed to see Haitians still being forced to return home.
“A week ago, I called for deportations to Haiti to stop, given the human rights and humanitarian crises the country is
Adding that the “Unremitting armed violence and systematic human rights violations in Haiti do not currently allow for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Haitians to the country. I reiterate my call to all countries in the region, including the Dominican Republic, to halt the deportation of Haitians.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also encouraged the Dominican Republic “to step up efforts to prevent xenophobia, discrimination and related forms of intolerance based on national, racial or ethnic origin, or immigration status.”
The gang conflict, political unrest and growing economic and health crisis in Haiti have resulted in hundreds of thousands of Haitians fleeing the country to seek refuge in other countries in the region by all means possible.
This has resulted in countries across the region, especially the Dominican Republic, which has a 240-mile (390-kilometre) border with Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, cracking down on securing their borders.
According to authorities from the Dominican Republic, between July and October of this year, 43,900 migrants, mostly Haitians, were deported. The number of deportations has also increased by almost 50 per cent in September and October.
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo from WHYY.org