Dominican Republic: Hundreds of Haitians Return Home Ahead of Border Shutdown
The Dominican Republic's president is closing all borders with Haiti due to a dispute over a canal on the Haitian side that would use water from a shared river starting Friday. ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images

Amid an ongoing dispute concerning constructing a water channel from a shared river, hundreds of Haitians returned from the Dominican Republic on Thursday, according to Reuters.

This development followed an announcement by Dominican President Luis Abinader regarding an impending complete closure of the border.

The border closure is scheduled for Friday at 6 AM (1000 GMT) and will remain "as long as necessary," as indicated by Dominican authorities.

They are receiving support from their military and police forces in enforcing this measure, even as discussions with the Haiti government are expected to continue.

On Thursday afternoon, a temporary opening of the border gates near the canal allowed over a thousand individuals to cross into Haiti at Ouanaminthe.

This was primarily for individuals facing deportation or families seeking to return.

Harold Estimable, the director of the national migration office in Ouanaminthe, reported that 250 to 300 Haitians had been arriving daily from the Dominican Republic, often in distressing conditions.

Furthermore, United Nations experts issued a warning earlier this week, shedding light on the troubling situation where Haitian women seeking pregnancy and postpartum medical care in the Dominican Republic were reportedly detained during their check-ups and deported without any opportunity to appeal.

Dominican Republic and Haiti Canal Dispute

The decision to close the border stems from a dispute over the excavation of a canal by a farming group on the Haitian side aimed at diverting waters from the Massacre River.

This river forms the boundary between the two neighboring nations on the island of Hispaniola, according to AP.

The International Crisis Group has noted that work on this canal had been halted following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 but was resumed due to perceived inaction by the Haitian government.

The canal project was initiated in response to the challenges posed by drought in the agricultural region of the Maribaroux plain.

It's crucial to highlight that there is no substantive evidence to support claims made by the Dominican Republic government suggesting the involvement of prominent politicians or influential business figures in this canal project, as noted by Latin American and Caribbean consultant Diego Da Rin.

Abinader has taken several measures in recent days, including suspending the issuance of visas to Haitians and shutting down the border near the northern town of Dajabon.

These actions have significantly impacted the livelihoods of Haitians who engage in cross-border trade and those who commute daily to work in the Dominican Republic.

Abinader has accused Haiti of attempting to redirect water from the Massacre River, asserting that this would adversely affect Dominican farmers and the environment.

The Massacre River has historical significance, dating back to violent conflicts between French and Spanish colonizers in the 1700s and a tragic event in 1937 involving a mass killing of Haitians by the Dominican army.

Dominican Republic and Haiti Relationship

Tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been on the rise in recent years, primarily concerning issues related to border security and the treatment of Haitian migrants and asylum seekers within the Dominican Republic, Al Jazeera noted.

To address the ongoing dispute regarding the canal project, Haiti's government reported on Wednesday that it held discussions with Dominican officials in the Dominican Republic.

The statement issued by Haiti's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not delve into specific details but did indicate that both sides were striving to reach a "fair and definitive" resolution.

On Thursday, the Dominican Republic announced plans to close all land, sea, and air routes along the border.

Additionally, it disclosed the deployment of an additional 20 armored vehicles to a military camp situated along the border.

The Dominican Republic had previously imposed a full closure of its border with Haiti after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Dominican Republic to build wall in bid to keep out Haitians - From Al Jazeera English