As part of a joint monitoring work, the Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GAAR), the Jesuit Service for Migrants (SJM), the Border Network Jeannot Succès (RFJS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded during the month of October 2015, 8.602 Haitians living in irregular migratory situation in the Dominican Republic (4,344 returnees and 4,258 voluntary returns) who returned to Haiti. They lived mostly in Barahona, Santiago, Monte Cristi and San Juan de la Maguana.

This is a significant increase of over 33% compared to the month of September 2015 where 6.425 Haitian illegal migrants return, were registered (3,372 returnees and 3,053 voluntary returns). Representing for these two months 14.027 Haitians.

The returnees were transported to Haiti, in particular by 3 official border points whose Ouanaminthe/Dajabón, Malpasse/Jimani and Belladère/Elias Piña.

The GARR who daily provide humanitarian assistance to returnees from the Dominican Republic, urges the Haitian and Dominican authorities to make every effort to ensure that the repatriation operations are carried out with respect for human rights and the Memorandum of Understanding of December 2, 1999.

TB/ HaitiLibre