The government of the Dominican Republic announced on Monday that it will temporarily allow the trade of essential products, including food and medications, on its border with Haiti, AP reports.

However, the ban on the entry of Haitian citizens will be maintained amid an ongoing dispute over the construction of a canal that targets a river running through both countries.

This measure will take effect on Wednesday at 8:00 AM in four border provinces to facilitate the trade of essential goods, particularly those intended for children, as stated in a government press release.

This announcement follows weeks of tension between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, triggered by a dispute over the construction of a canal on Haitian soil aimed at diverting waters from the Massacre River to address a drought affecting the Haitian Maribaroux plain.

The situation has caused a diplomatic crisis between the two neighboring nations that share the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

The Dominican government also revealed its plans to increase the military presence along the border to deter gang members who might attempt to enter the Dominican Republic as a multinational force arrives in Haiti with the approval of the UN Security Council.

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Closure of Dominican Republic-Haiti Border Affects Dominican Business Owners

The decision to reopen trade at the border comes after growing international pressure, led by the United States and the United Nations, for both countries to resolve their dispute and allow humanitarian aid to pass through the border into Haiti, according to the Miami Herald.

The Dominican Republic's President, Luis Abinader, had previously defended the border closure, but recent protests by Dominican business owners and the economic impact on the region have increased the pressure for a resolution.

Haiti heavily relies on imports from the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Republic exports about 8.4% of its total exports, valued at approximately $1 billion in 2022, to its neighbor on the shared island of Hispaniola, Barron's noted.

Additionally, the Dominican government stated that a ban on the export of electronic products and construction materials will remain in place to protect the environmental heritage of the region.

Suspension of Visa Issuances to Haiti Citizens Extended

In the statement, the government declared the indefinite closure of the border to immigration to prevent the transit of people from Haitian territory and extended the suspension of visas for Haitian citizens.

Authorities will also establish a fund to finance an agricultural program aimed at reducing the employment of undocumented immigrant workers. These new measures will be implemented on Wednesday, per Reuters.

The Dominican Republic has previously faced criticism for deporting tens of thousands of Haitian migrants fleeing violence in their own country, drawing the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Kenya, which had offered to lead a UN-backed international force in Haiti at the request of the Haitian government, temporarily postponed the deployment of 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean nation.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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