Floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti: 19 dead and thousands displaced
The Caribbean has been hit by a new humanitarian disaster as flooding worsened in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, killing at least 19 people and displacing thousands since last week. According to the latest figures from official sources and the Red Cross, torrential rains that struck the island of Hispaniola, shared by the two countries, caused extensive material damage and widespread destruction of infrastructure, amid fears that the severe weather will continue and the humanitarian crisis will worsen for local residents.
Details of human and material losses resulting from the floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti
Thunderstorms and torrential rains began on the night of April 7 and continued for more than a week, flooding entire neighborhoods. In the Dominican Republic, Civil Defense Director Juan Salas announced the recovery of five more bodies, bringing the official death toll there to seven. Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Agency in neighboring Haiti confirmed 12 deaths across multiple provinces due to flash floods and landslides that swept through residential areas.
The disaster also caused the displacement and evacuation of at least 30,500 people in the Dominican Republic, where some 6,500 homes were completely or partially damaged, and 38 villages were completely cut off from the outside world due to the disruption of roads and bridges, complicating rescue operations and the delivery of aid to the affected areas.
Hispaniola Island and the Ongoing Challenges of Climate Change
Historically, Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the Caribbean. The island frequently faces devastating hurricanes and seasonal floods, exacerbated by global climate change. However, the disparity in infrastructure and economic capacity between the two countries is evident in their responses to these crises. Haiti suffers from fragile security and economic conditions that compound the impact of disasters, while the Dominican Republic, despite having a more organized civil defense system, has not been spared significant losses.
The repercussions of the crisis at the local and regional levels
Domestically, the heavy rains have paralyzed daily life in both countries, leading to school closures, reduced working hours, and widespread power outages, including in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo. These conditions are raising regional and international concerns about the potential for outbreaks of waterborne diseases, such as cholera, particularly in temporary camps and areas lacking sanitation and basic medical services.
Dominican meteorological authorities continue to maintain a state of precautionary alert in 24 out of 31 provinces, in anticipation of new waves of rain and cold in the coming days, which calls for urgent intervention from international humanitarian organizations to provide urgent relief support to those affected on the stricken island and to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure.
