Dajabón border admissions up 25% as aid thins at Haiti-Dominican crossing

The Dominican Red Cross says humanitarian needs remain high along the Dominican Republic's border with Haiti, with most of the available evidence concentrated on the town of Dajabón, where its branch assists people passing through the migrant interdiction centre. Admissions recorded at the centre rose sharply in the third quarter of 2026 even as several international organisations pulled their staff out of the area.

The National Society decided on 12 October 2026 to ask the IFRC for DREF support, an emergency funding request that is still under review. Its proposals have not yet been delivered.

Key facts

• Dajabón branch records show 15,697 admissions in July-September 2026, up 25.1 per cent from 12,550 in the same period of 2025
• Recorded admissions of children rose from 628 to 3,229, taking their share from 5.0 to 20.6 per cent
• Movements fluctuated within the quarter, falling from 7,265 in July to 3,597 in September
• Access to the interdiction centre is restricted from 18:00 until the following day
• Up to five volunteers run the services, with no regular operating schedule
• A multi-area assessment is proposed for Monte Cristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales

What is happening at the border?

The Dominican Red Cross reports population movements towards Haiti through the Dominican border area, with fluctuating flows and continuing needs for pre-hospital care, drinking water, food, personal hygiene items, family contact and protection referrals. The figures cover admissions and may include repeat entries rather than unique individuals or people assessed as needing help.

Branch reports document dehydration, hypertension, injuries, pregnancy-related concerns requiring hospital referral, and cases involving unaccompanied children. Children separated from caregivers, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older people, people with disabilities and those with chronic conditions may need adapted assistance and timely referrals, and language barriers and loss of family contact can further restrict access to support. The scale of unmet needs has not yet been systematically quantified.

What help is available at Dajabón?

Volunteers provide first aid and pre-hospital assistance, referrals to public health facilities, drinking water and food rations supported by National Society headquarters, and hygiene kits when supplies allow — 3,409 kits were handed out in July-September 2026. Family contact services, described as Restoring Family Links, include telephone calls and phone charging, and volunteers refer unaccompanied and separated children to protection services including CONANI.

Coverage is limited. Services rely on no more than five volunteers whose availability varies because of employment commitments. The National Society also reports that UNHCR, IOM, World Vision and Save the Children no longer maintain a physical presence in Dajabón, and says the timing and implications of this, including whether help continues remotely or through partners, have not been fully verified.

What is planned next?

After an IFRC Regional Director visit to Dajabón in September and follow-up discussions, the National Society decided on 12 October 2026 to request DREF support. The proposed operation would strengthen existing branch services, set up and equip a Humanitarian Service Point subject to authorisation, and run a multisectoral assessment in selected locations in Monte Cristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia and Pedernales. All proposed activities would take place within Dominican territory.

The DREF application remains under review, and the proposed activities and population targets do not represent assistance already delivered. An assessment, surge deployment and additional operational support have not yet been implemented.

What this means for travellers

Anyone planning to cross at or travel near Dajabón should note that migration processing there is managed by the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) at the interdiction centre, and that access to the centre is restricted from 18:00 until the following day. Humanitarian services at the site are volunteer-run and do not follow a regular schedule, and the proposed Humanitarian Service Point has not yet been established.

UNICEF reported in September 2025 that it provided safe spaces at migration processing centres in Dajabón, Elías Piña and Santiago for children, adolescents, pregnant women and breastfeeding women, with management assigned to DGM in coordination with CONANI; the report says their current functionality, staffing and coverage require verification.