According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in total, nearly 20,000 people have been deported by land from the Dominican Republic to Haiti last month, a record high. Photo: CMC

“It is imperative that commitments to protecting vulnerable populations are upheld. These expulsions raise serious humanitarian and human rights concerns, particularly when they involve pregnant women or mothers with very young children,” said Richardson.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said “our humanitarian colleagues in Haiti are deeply concerned about the growing number of pregnant and breastfeeding women being deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, which is in violation of international standards”.

He told the daily UN briefing here on Tuesday that “our partners at border crossings say they have assisted approximately 30 pregnant or breastfeeding women each day over the past month”.

Dujarric said figures provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) show that in total, nearly 20,000 people have been deported by land from the Dominican Republic to Haiti last month, a record high.

He said that Richardson is warning that the deportations raise serious humanitarian and human rights concerns, particularly when they affect pregnant women or mothers with very young children.

“She stressed that it is imperative that commitments made to protect vulnerable people are respected,” Dujarric told reporters.

He said Haiti continues to face a complex humanitarian crisis, amid armed violence that continues to drive both displacement and hunger, with half the population, which is about 5.7 million people, facing acute food insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in Haiti is expressing “deep concern” over the rising number of pregnant and breastfeeding women being deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, in violation of international standards.

“The Humanitarian Country Team in Haiti calls for migration policies that uphold human dignity and urges enhanced regional solidarity to address a crisis that transcends borders and endangers the rights and lives of thousands.”