Activists in Haiti made urgent appeals on Thursday for foreign nations to suspend deportations to their country amid a worsening scenario of gang violence and escalating poverty.
Over the past month, a significant number of individuals have been returned to Haiti, primarily from the Dominican Republic, where the president has recently announced a commitment to deport approximately 10,000 migrants each week.

In total, nearly 61,000 migrants were sent back to Haiti from October 2 to November 5, according to current government statistics.
In comparison, during October, the United States deported 258 Haitians, while a collective total of 231 individuals were removed by the Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, as reported by Sam Guillaume, a representative of Haiti’s Support Group for Returnees and Refugees.
He pointed out that many of those being deported find themselves without homes.
“Many can’t return to their neighborhoods, as gang control has made it dangerous,” he explained.
Consequently, a number of deportees are temporarily residing along Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic, hoping to find a way to cross back.

Currently, gangs exert control over approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, manifesting in violent attacks throughout previously peaceful areas.
These deportees add to the count of over 700,000 individuals who have lost their homes due to gang-related violence in recent years.
Among these displaced individuals, more than 12,000 fled from parts of Port-au-Prince following violent incidents last month, as reported by the International Organization for Migration from the U.N.
Those awaiting deportation in the Dominican Republic have been placed in overcrowded facilities lacking basic necessities such as water, food, and bedding.
Reports indicate that when they assert their rights, they may face deplorable responses, including tear gas, according to Guillaume.
“People are being treated like criminals,” he stated.

He also noted that some organizations assisting Haitians within the Dominican Republic have been subjected to aggression and violence.
While no immediate comments could be obtained from a spokesperson for Dominican President Luis Abinader, Guillaume mentioned that some Dominicans involved in smuggling Haitians are reportedly kidnapping them and demanding hefty ransoms for their release, sometimes reaching up to $300.
Katia Bonte, who coordinates the efforts of Haiti’s Support Group for Returnees and Refugees, remarked that the migrants they are assisting desperately require food, water, medical supplies, hygienic kits, and various other essential items.

The directive to pause deportations arises as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to initiate widespread deportations once he assumes office, although many details regarding how his administration plans to implement such measures remain unclear.
The Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, an organization based in New York, expressed on Thursday that refugees and migrants can expect “increasing challenges” in light of the recent U.S. presidential election outcomes.