UN rights expert calls for quick end to Haiti-Dominican border shutdown
2023.09.18 18:36
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Haitians work on the construction site of a water channel from the Massacre river, a river shared between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, after Dominican President Luis Abinader announced a total border shutdown amid a conflict over the cons
(Reuters) -A United Nations human rights expert on Monday called on the Dominican Republic and Haiti to resume talks to reach a quick, peaceful end to a total border shutdown Dominican authorities launched on Friday over construction of a canal.
U.N. expert for Haiti William O’Neill said the closure would hurt jobs and businesses that depend on cross-border trade and have “dire” results on access to essential goods in Haiti, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis.
He called on the countries to seek international arbitration if needed.
“Directors of medical clinics in Haiti have told me that they will not be able to care for their patients if access to the Dominican Republic is cut off,” O’Neill said in a statement.
“Lives are at stake,” he added, noting that at least a quarter of food is imported through the border and calling on the Dominican Republic to allow the delivery of all humanitarian assistance and essential goods.
The Dominican Republic’s foreign ministry said it rejected O’Neill’s “biased and unfortunate” statements, and that any talks with Haiti were conditional on a halt to the canal construction.
“It is not reasonable that our country should ensure the social well-being of Haitians,” it said in a statement. The ministry added that it took note of the request to allow humanitarian aid, though work on the canal must be stopped for an “immediate and definitive solution.”
Dominican President Luis Abinader, who is seeking reelection in May 2024, announced the border shutdown last week citing a canal being built on the Haitian side of the shared Massacre river that he says violates a 1929 treaty.
The shutdown comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti driven by escalating gang warfare.
The United Nations has repeatedly raised concerns about forced deportations of Haitians from the Dominican Republic, including of children and pregnant women.
Dominican authorities said water authority INDRHI had inspected irrigation infrastructure in the border region near the canal and found no risk for local producers.
INDRHI is continuing studies for construction of a dam ordered by Abinader, it said. Abinader last week said he was planning to build two dams that could “significantly affect” Haiti if the treaty is not active.
