Barbed wire at Haiti border aims to halt animals, not people

Pedernales, Dominican Republic. – Local authorities and civil society say they agree with Border Security Corps (Cesfront) to lay a 6-kilometer barbed wire fence along the border at the Haitian town of Anse á Pitre, aimed at averting disputes when animals cross from one side to the other.

After initial concern, Cesfront local commander Aldo Fernandez said they proceeded to lay out the six strands of barbed wire, but noted that the fence isn’t being built to halt the entry of undocumented Haitians, but to avoid conflicts between Dominicans and Haitians instead.

He said there was a fence there several years ago, but destroyed during flooding of the Pedernales river. "The main reason is to prevent Haitian and Dominican animals from crossing from one side to another. Many times, these animals are lost and this brings many problems."

Fernandez added that the crossing of undocumented Haitians isn’t very common through that area, but where sheep, goats and cattle routinely wander to the adjacent country.