The Dominican Republic has announced plans to expel up to 10,000 Haitian migrants per week amidst a surge in gang violence in Haiti. This decision has been met with criticism from the United Nations, which has called for an end to forced returns to Haiti. The ongoing violence in Haiti has internally displaced over 700,000 people and left more than half of the population facing acute hunger.
Haiti has been grappling with years of violence, with armed groups vying for control over territory. The situation worsened in February when gangs launched attacks on prisons and state institutions. Despite efforts by the UN-backed multinational police deployment, the gangs continue to control a large portion of the capital.
President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic has defended the decision to expel Haitian migrants, citing the international community’s slow response to the crisis in Haiti. Rights groups have condemned the expulsions, accusing the Dominican government of racist immigration policies and targeting Black Dominicans.
As the violence and instability in Haiti escalate, the UNHCR has urged governments not to deport Haitians back to the country. The agency has highlighted the threats to Haitians’ lives and human rights posed by the current situation, calling on states to provide international protection to those in need and not forcibly return individuals to Haiti.
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