JIMANI, Dominican Republic.- The Jimaní City Council declared the border crossing Malpaso in emergency from the Fondo or Azuei lake’s expanding shoreline.

Azuei, the second largest lake after Enriquillo, has flooded the Customs Immigration, and Agriculture Ministry offices, the barracks of the Border Security troops, businesses, the space for fairs and markets, as well as the road across the Dominican-Haiti border.

The City Council’s declaration of June 9 states that the lake’s growth has “dramatically” flooded that border zone and altered the day to day of the people and institutions. “Malpaso is the most of important point of confluence for bilateral relations such as trade, geopolitical, solidarity, human, migratory and others, where in important tax revenue and border control offices are also installed.”

Through Malpaso, just 53 kilometers from Port-au-Prince, passes most of Dominican Republic’s freight exports to Haiti, and since the January 12 quake the merchandise and international aid.

Washed out highway

Locals are concerned that if the authorities don’t take action in time, Azuei lake’s incessant expansion could be left cut off from Dominican territory, as the water drowns the zone’s only road to Haiti.

They affirm that the construction of a highway far enough away from the lake is the definitive solution.