New York.- President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized the urgent need for international involvement to stabilize Haiti. He warned that the collapse of the neighboring country would have severe consequences for the entire Caribbean region, describing it as a “strategic necessity for security” in both the Dominican Republic and the region. Abinader highlighted that for over three years, Haiti’s instability has created significant security challenges for the Dominican Republic and beyond.
Abinader called attention to the Dominican Republic’s considerable efforts in supporting Haiti, stating that the country has provided essential services to a large Haitian population. In 2023, Haitian immigrants represented 9.9% of the total services in the Dominican health system, and 147,906 Haitian children are currently enrolled in Dominican public schools. He stressed that while his country is committed to helping, they cannot bear the burden alone.
The president commended the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti and the Multinational Security Support Mission but noted that only 400 of the required 1,000 troops have been deployed. Abinader criticized countries that have not fulfilled their commitments to the Haitian crisis, warning that without full international support, Haiti’s collapse would have dire consequences for the region. He thanked Kenya, the U.S., Jamaica, the Bahamas, and El Salvador for their contributions and reaffirmed the Dominican Republic’s commitment to assisting Haiti’s recovery efforts.