Dominican Republic readies border in wake of escalating violence from neighbouring Haiti

The Dominican army was deployed on Monday (March 18) to the Haitian border with checkpoints to monitor the crossings as the political upheaval has rocked Haiti for weeks, yielding to the formation of a new government. The Jimani border crossing between the two Hispaniola island nations experienced a drop in the flux of Haitians going to the Dominican Republic, said a trader of the area, Arturo Trinado, and the people getting inside the territory had to undergo examinations of their belongings at the gate. An escalation in gang violence brought regional leaders to put forward several political associations set to participate in a transitory presidential council after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced he would resign. Gang leaders who have long sought to oust Henry have warned of a “battle“ for Haiti and threatened politicians who join the transition council. Residents are facing worsening shortages of food and medical care as shipping firms have changed routes. The Sun