Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader (L) at the groundbreaking ceremony for the border wall with Haiti on February 20, 2022.
Image: EPA
The 3.9 meter high wall is intended to prevent people from Haiti from fleeing to the wealthier neighboring country. 70 watchtowers, facial recognition software, and drones are supposed to secure the border.
Dhe Dominican Republic has begun building a wall along their common border to stop illegal immigration from Haiti. “The benefits for both nations will be of great importance,” said Dominican President Luis Abinader on Sunday at the groundbreaking ceremony around 230 kilometers northwest of the capital Santo Domingo. The border wall will curb the smuggling of merchandise and weapons and help fight organized crime in both countries. The first phase of the project will be completed in nine months at the latest. According to the Dominican government, 70 watchtowers are to be built along the 164-kilometer-long and 3.9-meter-high bulwark. Cameras with facial recognition software, motion sensors and drones are used for border security.
There has been tension between the two countries neighboring the Caribbean island of Hispaniola for years. The countries have a common border with a length of around 392 kilometers. Crime-ridden Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Americas, while the Dominican Republic has prospered in recent decades thanks to political stability and tourism. Many Haitians are fleeing to find work in the Dominican Republic.
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