21446: Esser: An open Dominican border needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

Jesuit Refugee Service
http://www.jesref.org/

April 16, 2004

An open Dominican border needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis

Due to the worsening humanitarian situation within Haiti, the JRS
Dominican Republic calls on its Government to allow those fleeing
Haiti to seek safety in the Dominican Republic and to refrain from
deporting Haitian nationals until the situation has stabilised.

The religious organisation, which works with migrants in various
parts of the Dominican Republic, also called on the Dominican
authorities to create the circumstances to ensure cross-border market
remains open. It is a vital supply of goods to Haiti and would also
minimise the losses to the local economy borne by its small traders.

JRS highlighted the difficulties of supplying essential goods to
Haiti, especially to the north of the country. The JRS spokesperson
urged the Dominican authorities to closely monitor the situation. He
also pointed out that given the present circumstances the
Haitian-Dominican border represents a bridge to prevent the situation
from developing into a humanitarian disaster.

Finally, JRS made an urgent appeal to the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), who does not have a representative in Haiti, to
closely monitor the difficulties faced by the local population in
Port-au-Prince now that foreign embassies are refusing to accept
applications for asylum.
.