President Fernández Says There Will Be No Massive Influx of Haitians into the DR

President Fernández Says There Will Be No Massive Influx of Haitians into the DR

Speaking at a meeting of Dominican diplomats and government officials in Haiti, Dominican President, Leonel Fernández said there will be no massive migration of Haitians to the Dominican Republic. President Fernández pointed out that most of the damage of Tuesday’s earthquake occurred in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince rather than in the border towns which would reduce the potential flow of migrants.

The Head of State emphasized that right now preventative health measures should be taken on both sides of the island ,…

The Head of State emphasized that right now preventative health measures should be taken on both sides of the island in order to avoid the outbreak of epidemics as bodies under the rubble of the earthquake begin to decompose.

Fernández said his government will continue transporting and treating the injured who are being pulled from the ruins. They are being brought to hospitals along the border as well as to Santo Domingo, depending on the seriousness of their injuries. The Military Hospital of the Dominican Armed Forces and various border hospitals are currently receiving injured Haitians in need of medical care.

President Fernández spoke with reporters at the Dominican Embassy in Haiti where he met with the Dominican Ambassador to Haiti, Rubén Silié, Consul General Carlos Castillo and other functionaries of the embassy and government. They explained the details of the relief efforts being carried out by the Dominican government.

Others at the meeting included Armed Forces official Lieutenant Rafel Peña Antonio; Víctor Díaz Rúa of Public Works; Bautista Rojas Gómez of the Public Health Department; Director of the Office of Supervisory Engineers for Government Construction, Félix Bautista and other government workers who reported the details of their work to the president.

Previously, President Fernández met at the border town of Jimaní with the Director of Civil Defense, General Luis Luna Paulino and others who briefed him on the situation and needs of the Haiti relief operation.