Support for 30 families of Haitian origin deported from the Dominican Republic

Context

In 2013, the Dominican Republic decided to retroactively remove Dominican nationality from all persons born in the DR in the past 85-years to so-called "irregular" parents, for example, those "in transit" because they were "seasonal workers" and yet who have lived in the DR their whole lives. Despite the new "restorative" directive of 2014, many people remain and are born stateless every day. As of June 17, 2015, which marked the end of registration for the National Plan for the Regularization of Foreigners (PNRE), approached, thousands of Haitian immigrant families were threatened and forced to leave the Dominican Republic. Since then, the Dominican government has intensified deportations to Haiti, among them, children, some accompanied by their parents and others not[1]. Upon arrival at the border, migrants either go to their communities of origin or find a place in the makeshift camps in Anse-à-Pitre in the South-East Department. With limited resources, a few organisations such as our partner in this program, GARR, welcome these families at the border and register their names. Their communities of origin are generally peasant communities, which are profoundly affected by poverty and growing food insecurity. Some say that there have been no camps since April 2016, IOM figures largely indicate the opposite. The camp has more than 115 makeshift shelters, made of wood, canvas and imagination, located in a sweltering area in the desert. Cholera, fever, diarrhoea have killed several children, women and the elderly. In these camps, 58% of the population is aged between 0 and 19 years, 49% are women.

Action

In response to this situation, the project aims to change the fate of at least 30 families (strengthening mothers through income-generating activities and vocational training, defending their rights, health, schooling, birth certificates), supporting GARR advocacy and promoting the reception of refugees in the border villages where they are located. The acceptance of refugee children in schools while they wait to receive a birth certificate, the sharing of farmland by the host population, vocational training for young female mothers, access to income-generating activities, raising awareness among host populations about the history of the refugees... all these are measures to encourage the reception and the start of a new life for these families deported from DR.

Local partner

GARR (Groupe d'Appui aux Repatriés et Réfugiés) is a platform of associations and non-governmental organisations working on migration issues. While not excluding other areas with high levels of migration, GARR focuses its efforts on the Dominican Republic, where many Haitian immigrants live in challenging situations.

The GARR was created in August 1991, following the decision of the then President of the Dominican Republic to deport any suspected Haitian national from its territory.

Issues and objectives

In order to contribute to the search for real and lasting solutions to the problems of returnees, refugees and internally displaced persons and to develop a better understanding of their difficulties, GARR has the following objectives:

1. Develop advocacy and mobilisation activities to promote and defend the rights of different categories of Haitian migrants that they work with;
2. Facilitate the reintegration of returnees and encourage local initiatives to organise a more dignified reception of returnees
3. Support the Haitian State in implementing a genuine migration policy that promotes the national interests and those of the various categories of migrants and Haitian refugees from the Dominican Republic

1] According to organisations that monitor these deportations at the border, including the Groupe d'Appui aux Repatriés et aux Réfugiés (GARR), between 17 June 2015 and 28 April 2016, the Dominican Republic deported 93,947 people to Haiti. 29.8% are minors, of whom 1345 were not accompanied by an adult (IOM Report, GARR... April 2016).