Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Health Ministry: One martyr in Israeli strike on motorcycle in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets motorcycle in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump: I don't want to say Israeli strike is imminent
US President Donald Trump: Israeli strike [on Iran] could very well happen
US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Mike Huckabee: Israeli attack on Iran without US greenlight is unrealistic scenario.
Iranian media: Documents indicate that Merav Zafary-Odiz was tasked with stoking confusion about Iran's peaceful nuclear program
Iranian media: The documents indicate that Merav Odiz was tasked with diverting world opinion away from "Israel's" non-peaceful nuclear program
Iranian media: Documents reveal direct coordination between the Zionist entity's representative, Merav Zafary-Odiz, and Grossi
Iranian media: One document reveals that Merav Zafary-Odiz, "Israel's" representative at the agency, requested an immediate meeting with Grossi on May 10, 2016
Iranian media: One document reveals coordination between the [Israeli] entity and Grossi to incite tensions against Iran just five months after the nuclear agreement was concluded

Top UN official urges re-opening of Dominican border with Haiti

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Sep 2023 09:52
3 Min Read

The UN's top official on human rights in Haiti says the Dominican government's decision will have serious impacts on people on both sides of the border.

  • x
  • UN
    Dominican soldier from the Specialized Land Border Security Corps observes a Haitian citizen crossing back to his country during a military operation at the border post in Dajabon, Dominican Republic, on September 18, 2023 (AFP)

A top UN official on Monday urged authorities in the Dominican Republic to re-open its border with Haiti and use diplomacy to resolve a dispute over a shared river.

The Dominican Republic announced the border closure on Thursday in response to Haiti's plans to build a canal on the Massacre River, arguing it violates several border treaties between the two nations, which share the island of Hispaniola.

William O'Neill, the UN's top official on human rights in Haiti, stressed that the border must be reopened.

"I urge the government to reconsider its decision which will have serious impacts on people on both sides of the border," O'Neill expressed in Geneva.

He pointed out that many businesses in the Dominican Republic depend on trade with Haiti and rely on Haitian workers.

According to O'Neill, the consequences of the border closure will be even more dire for Haiti, which imports much of its food and medical supplies from its neighbor.

"Directors of medical clinics in Haiti have told me that they will not be able to care for their patients if access to the Dominican Republic is cut off," he added.

Related News

Half a billion adolescents could face obesity by 2030, report warns

A roundup of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024

"Lives are at stake."

On his part, Dominican President Luis Abinader reiterated Sunday that land, air, and sea borders with Haiti will remain closed until the canal project is halted.

"The measures will be in force until we achieve the definitive stoppage of the canal under construction," Abinader said in a televised address.

On Monday, his government called O'Neill's statements "biased and unfortunate."

The diplomatic crisis comes on top of existing tensions between the Caribbean neighbors over emigration from Haiti, one of the world's poorest nations, to the richer Dominican Republic.

It is noteworthy that Dominican authorities are building a 160-kilometer (100-mile) concrete wall along the 380-kilometer border with Haiti to keep out undocumented migrants.

"The Republic of Haiti can make sovereign decisions on the exploitation of its natural resources," the Haitian government underlined in response to the initial announcement of the border closure by the Dominican Republic.

As part of the canal dispute, the Dominican government also suspended visas for Haitians. Ahead of the full border closure, it closed the Dajabon crossing -- one of the most important crossings where a cross-frontier market takes place twice a week.

Read more: How the US continues to orchestrate chaos in Haiti: UnHerd

  • Carribean
  • United Nations
  • Luis Abinader
  • Dominican Republic
  • Haiti

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an undated photo (Nournews)

Iranian security minister reveals major intelligence haul on 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 8 Jun 2025
IAEA leaked to 'Israel' confidential communications with Iran: Fars

IAEA leaked to 'Israel' confidential communications with Iran: Fars

  • MENA
  • 10 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following a immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
US & Canada

ICE raids in LA trap families in harsh conditions: Lawyers

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks at a rally to garner support for a referendum on labor reform, in Cali, Colombia, on June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Politics

Petro slams US-linked coup plot, signs decree for popular consultation

President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 17, 2025. (AP)
US & Canada

World sees Trump as ‘arrogant’, ‘dangerous’ as ratings sink: Poll

he Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon on, Oct. 29, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
Politics

Future of $240bln AUKUS deal in doubt as Pentagon launches review

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS