From 13 to 15 May, the Dominican State forcibly expelled more than 2,000 Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian origin and Black Dominicans to Wanament, northern Haiti, causing a humanitarian crisis in the town. The majority of those deported were women and children.

JRS Haiti, in collaboration with other local associations and the church, has provided temporary housing, food, water, medical care and psychosocial services to over 1,000 deportees. Many of them were very badly affected by what had happened.

Those deported were put into buses and trucks in which they travelled for more than three hours, encaged like animals. On 14 May, 50 deportees, who were housed in "Fortaleza Beller" military base were not even offered anything to eat. The majority of the deportees arrived to Wanament, distressed, dirty, hungry, thirsty, and humiliated.

"This mass expulsion of Haitians and Black Dominicans surprised everybody and surpassed our capacity and that of our partners to provide them with accommodation in Wanament, a town that lacks even the most basic infrastructure and services. We have had to use the parish church and the convent as temporary accommodation centres", said a JRS staff member.

On 15 May, in response to pressure from JRS Haiti, seven parents were allowed to return to the DR to look for their children. They were escorted by the Dominican military in trucks. However, despite these positive gestures, the military and the migration authorities are increasingly less open to assist individuals in similar situations.

JRS is also indignant that the Haitian authorities have shown little concern for this humanitarian crisis on their northern border. Staff called on the Haitian State to respond immediately to this crisis and to seek negotiations with the Dominican State on the mechanisms of the orderly return of undocumented Haitians in accordance with the 1999 protocol of understanding. Staff added that the Haitian authorities should also respect their own commitments under the protocol to establish migration controls to receive those deported and to control future irregular migration.

[FULL REPORT]

15 May 2005

From 13 to 15 May, the Dominican State forcibly expelled more than 2,000 Haitians, Dominicans of Haitian origin and Black Dominicans to Wanament, northern Haiti, causing a humanitarian crisis in the town. The majority of those deported were women and children.

JRS Haiti, in collaboration with other local associations and the church, has provided temporary housing, food, water, medical care and psychosocial services to over 1,000 deportees. Many of them were very badly affected by what had happened. On 13 and 14 May alone, JRS recorded that 12 Dominicans and 29 children had their documentation destroyed by the Haitian military. Thirty-nine parents were not even given time to find their children. For example Nadège Étienne, arrested while at work, was deported without his 6 children. Others deported included: four Haitians with passports with valid work visas, 38 Black Dominican children were arrested and deported on their way to school, 12 Haitians who have lived more than thirty years in the Dominican Republic (DR) and six women who were between six to nine months pregnant.

According to José Miguel Durán, a 23 year old, he and his younger brothers, of 13 and 14 years of age, who were born and brought up in the DR were arrested on their way to school.

JRS staff reported that those deported were put into buses and trucks in which they travelled for more than three hours, encaged like animals. On 14 May, 50 deportees, who were housed in "Fortaleza Beller" military base were not even offered anything to eat. The majority of the deportees arrived to Wanament, distressed, dirty, hungry, thirsty, and humiliated.

"This mass expulsion of Haitians and Black Dominicans surprised everybody and surpassed our capacity and that of our partners to provide them with accommodation in Wanament, a town that lacks even the most basic infrastructure and services. We have had to use the parish church and the convent as temporary accommodation centres", said a JRS staff member.

"It is a very delicate situation. The consequences of the forced expulsions are alarming. Many people smugglers have been offering, in exchange for 400 US Dollars, to bring the expelled migrants back to the DR", he added.

A number of Haitians who have lived in Dominican communities on the northern border have returned voluntarily, robbed by Dominicans, and mistreated by the Dominican military and the local Dominican population, many of whom stoned them.

Fifty-three of those deported on 13 May who were in possession of valid residency papers have returned to the DR.

On 15 May, in response to pressure from JRS Haiti, seven parents were allowed to return to the DR to look for their children. They were escorted by the Dominican military in trucks. However, despite these positive gestures, the military and the migration authorities are increasingly less open to assist individuals in similar situations.

JRS Haiti called on the Dominican State, in particular the Migration Office to:

• ensure that all deportations are carried out within the terms of the law, in particular in line with the 1999 protocol of understanding between the Dominican and Haitian Governments on the legal mechanisms on deportation which respect the human rights of those expelled.
   
  
• think of the negative consequences that these illegal expulsions will have on Haitian-Dominican relations at all levels.

JRS is also indignant that the Haitian authorities have shown little concern for this humanitarian crisis on their northern border. Staff called on the Haitian State to respond immediately to this crisis and to seek negotiations with the Dominican State on the mechanisms of the orderly return of undocumented Haitians in accordance with the 1999 protocol of understanding. Staff added that the Haitian authorities should also respect their own commitments under the protocol to establish migration controls to receive those deported and to control future irregular migration.

"We believe that both the Dominican and Haitian States are responsible for serious human rights violations. We call on each of them, above all, to respect the constitutions of their countries, the bilateral agreements into which they have entered and the international treaties they have signed", said a JRS Haiti spokesperson.

"We hope that the Haitians take into consideration the danger that they undertake when they emigrate without documentation to the DR. Moreover, we ask all Haitians to be understanding and support their compatriots who have been victims of terrible human rights abuses", the spokesperson added.

Du 13 au 15 mai, le gouvernement dominicain a expulsé plus de 2 000 Haïtiens, Dominicains d'origine haïtienne et Dominicains Noirs. Ils ont été conduits à Wanament, dans le nord d'Haïti, causant une crise humanitaire dans cette ville. La majorité des expulsés étaient des femmes et des enfants.

En collaboration avec des associations locales et l'Eglise, le JRS Haïti a fourni des hébergements temporaires, de la nourriture, de l'eau, des soins médicaux et psychologiques à plus de 1 000expulsés. Un grand nombre d'entre eux étaient sous le choc.

Les expulsés étaient arrivés au terme d'un voyage de trois heures dans des camions et dans des autocars où ils avaient été entassés comme des animaux. Le 14 mai, 50 expulsés qui avaient été conduits dans la base militaire de «Fortaleza Beller» n'ont rien reçu à manger. La majorité des expulsés sont arrivés à Wanament effrayés, sales, affamés, assoiffés et humiliés.

«Cette expulsion massive d'Haïtiens et de Dominicains Noirs a surpris tout le monde et dépassé nos capacités d'accueil et celle de nos partenaires dans la ville de Wanament qui déjà manque des infrastructures et des services de base. Nous avons dû utiliser l'église paroissiale et le couvent comme abris temporaires», a déclaré un membre du JRS.

Le 15 mai, suite à des pressions exercées par le JRS Haïti, plusieurs parents ont été autorisés à rentrer en République Dominicaine pour rechercher leurs enfants, sous la surveillance de militaires dominicains à bord de camions. Et pourtant, en dépit de ces gestes positifs, les militaires et les responsables chargés de l'immigration sont de moins en moins prêts à assister les personnes qui se trouvent dans des situations similaires.

Le JRS s'est élevé contre le peu d'intérêt manifesté par le Gouvernement dominicain concernant la crise humanitaire qui sévit sur la frontière nord-est. Le personnel du JRS a demandé au gouvernement de trouver des solutions immédiates et d'ouvrir des négociations avec le gouvernement haïtien concernant le rapatriement en bonne et due forme des Haïtiens sans papiers, tel que le prévoit le Protocole d'Entente de 1999. Le personnel du JRS a également ajouté que le gouvernement dominicain devait respecter les engagements pris dans le cadre du Protocole concernant la mise en place de contrôles d'immigration permettant de recevoir les expulsés et de contrôler les futures migrations clandestines.

Del 13 al 15 de mayo, el Estado dominicano expulsó por la fuerza a más de 2.000 haitianos, dominicano de origen haitiano y negros dominicanos a Wanament, en el norte de Haití, provocando una crisis humanitaria crisis en la ciudad. La mayoría de los deportados eran mujeres y niños.

El JRS Haití, en colaboración con otras asociaciones locales y la iglesia, ha facilitado alojamiento temporal, alimentos, agua, atención médica y servicios psicosociales a unos 1.000 deportados. Muchos de ellos estaban apesadumbrados por lo ocurrido.

Los deportados fueron hacinados como animales en autobuses y camiones que, en un viaje de más de tres horas, los llevó hasta Haití. El 14 de mayo, a los 50 deportados que fueron encerrados en la base militar de "Fortaleza Beller" ni siquiera se les dio nada que comer.

La mayoría de los deportados llegaron a Wanament, aturdidos, sucios, hambrientos, sedientos y humillados.

"Esta expulsión masiva de haitianos y dominicanos negros ha sorprendido a todo el mundo y ha sobrepasado nuestra capacidad y la de nuestros socios de facilitarles alojamiento en Wanament, una ciudad que carece incluso de las infraestructuras y servicios más básicos. Hemos tenido que utilizar la iglesia parroquial y el convento como centros temporales de acogida", dijo un miembro del equipo del JRS.

El 15 de mayo, respondiendo a las presiones del JRS Haití, siete padres fueron autorizados a regresar a la República Dominicana para buscar a sus hijos. Fueron llevados en camiones militares dominicanos. Sin embargo, a pesar de estos gestos positivos, las autoridades militares y de migración se muestran cada vez menos abiertas a ayudar a particulares en situaciones similares.

El JRS se siente indignada ante el hecho de que las autoridades haitianas hayan mostrado tan poco interés por esta crisis humanitaria en su frontera norte. El equipo hizo un llamamiento al Estado haitiano para que respondiera inmediatamente a la crisis y para que negociase con el Estado dominicano sobre los mecanismos para el retorno ordenado de haitianos indocumentados, de acuerdo con el protocolo de 1999. El equipo ha añadido que las autoridades haitianas deberían respetar sus propios compromisos con el protocolo de establecer controles migratorios para recibir a los deportados y para controlar la futura emigración irregular.

Tra il 13 ed il 15 maggio lo Stato dominicano ha espulso più di 2.000 haitiani, dominicani di origine haitiana e dominicani neri inviadoli a Wanament (nord di Haiti) causando una crisi umanitaria nella città. La maggior parte dei deportati sono donne e bambini. Il JRS Haiti, in collaborazione con le altre associazioni locali e la Chiesa, ha fornito alloggi temporanei, cibo, acqua, servizi di assistenza sanitaria e psico-sociale a più di 1.000 deportati. Molti di loro sono stati particolarmente scossi da ciò che è accaduto.

I deportati sono stati obbligati a salire su autobus e camion nei quali hanno viaggiato per più di tre ore ingabbiati come animali. Il 14 maggio, ai 50 deportati sistemati nella base militare di "Fortaleza Beller" non sono neanche stati distribuiti viveri. Molti dei deportati sono arrivati a Wanament preoccupati, sporchi, affamati, assetati ed umiliati.

"Questa espulsione di massa di haitiani e dominicani neri ha sorpreso tutti mettendo a dura prova la nostra capacità e quella dei nostri partner di fornire loro una sistemazione a Wanament, città in cui mancano anche le infrastrutture ed i servizi più elementari. Abbiamo dovuto usare la chiesa ed il convento come centri di accoglienza temporanei" ha riferito un membro del personale del JRS.

Il 15 maggio, in risposta alle pressioni esercitate del JRS Haiti, è stato consentito a sette genitori di ritornare nella Repubblica Dominicana per badare ai propri bambini. Sono stati scortati dai militari dominicani con dei camion. Comunque, nonostante questi gesti positivi, i militari e le autorità dell'immigrazione sono sempre meno disposti ad assistere chi si trova in simili situazioni.

Il JRS è anche indignato poiché le autorità haitiane hanno mostrato scarso interesse verso questa crisi umanitaria al confine settentrionale. Il personale del JRS ha invitato lo Stato haitiano a rispondere immediatamente e a cercare una negoziazione con lo Stato dominicano sui meccanismi relativi al ritorno ordinato degli haitiani senza documenti conformemente al Protocollo d'Intesa del 1999. Il personale del JRS ha aggiunto che le autorità haitiane dovrebbero anche rispettare gli impegni presi con il Protocollo per stabilire i controlli dell'immigrazione per ricevere i deportati e controllare le future migrazioni irregolari.