President Luis Abinader confirmed during the 13 May 2024 press conference (La Semanal) that his government will only provide humanitarian assistance in health services as part of the multinational effort to restore peace in Haiti. The United States, Caricom and Kenya are leading the process to restore order to Haiti.
President Abinader clarified that the Dominican Republic in no way would provide any military support, in answering to the question of the Washington Post correspondent in Colombia.
With the collapse of the health system in Haiti given the many assaults by the gangs on hospitals in Haiti, the DR has taken on the burden of offering increased free medical services to the Haitian population in the Dominican Republic. Upwards of 35% of births in Dominican public hospitals are to Haitian women. Several hospitals (Los Minas and La Altagracia in Santo Domingo, hospitals in Barahona and Pedernales and Dajabon), and Santiago hospitals serve a majority of Haitians, in detriment to the Dominican population.
According to statistics kept by the National Health Service (SNS) during the first two months of 2024 (January and February 2024) there were 5,488 births to mothers of Haitian origin, or 35% of the 15,661 births documented in public hospitals in the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic also has taken on billions in costs for the education of Haitians in Dominican public schools given the collapse of the education system in Haiti.
The Dominican border with Haiti is militarized to the maximum ever in Dominican history.
During the same press conference, President Abinader acknowledged the difficulties in combatting smuggling at the border. In recent weeks, people have been arrested for people smuggling.
Read more in Spanish:
La Semanal
Listin Diario
15 May 2024