Dominican Republic Establishes Measures to Facilitate Entry of Humanitarian Aid and Workers Through Haiti Border

Dominican Republic Establishes Measures to Facilitate Entry of Humanitarian Aid and Workers Through Haiti Border

The Dominican presidency has loosened border controls with Haiti in order to facilitate the passage of aid to Haiti, devastated by an earthquake on Tuesday.

The Dominican Republic was the first country to arrive with aid to neighboring Haiti following the quake. Authorities sent food, water, medicine and rescue workers.

The Dominican government has instructed Immigration personnel to allow the passage of all Haitian-bound traffic carrying supplies and other citizens traveling to Haiti to help with disaster efforts.

Last Tuesday, President Leonel Fernández called for Immigration authorities and the Armed Forces to launch a full-fledged effort to channel their resources to assist the earthquake victims, according to the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.  

The Dominican Republic was the first country to arrive with aid to neighboring Haiti following the quake. Authorities sent food, water, medicine and rescue workers.

President Fernández authorized the Presidential Social Plan to donate 300,000 daily non-perishable food rations and the Government Food Program is sending 10,000 cooked meals every day.

The offices managing water resources have made available eight water trucks with capacity of 2,000 gallons each in response to the shortage in Haiti.  

The government has also sent 40 earth-moving trucks, backhoes, excavators and revolving bulldozers to sift through the rubble of collapsed buildings. Some 300 officers and trained dogs have also been sent to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.

As of Thursday morning, more than 100 Dominican Air Force helicopter rescue flights were made, transporting the injured. The Public Health Ministry is also running an Ambulance service to bring the injured to safety.