Print Friendy PageUNHCR | Washington Regional Office Dominican RepublicCaribbean UnitOCM in Santo DomingoUNHCR deployed an emergency staff to Santo Domingo in January 2010, shortly after the Haitian earthquake, to provide assistance to victims that crossed into the DR seeking shelter and medical aid. In June 2010, UNHCR formally inaugurated an Office of the Chief of Mission (OCM) in Santo Domingo, which is responsible for assisting the Government of the Dominican Republic to strengthen its institutional capacity to identify asylum seekers, determine their claims, and provide legal documentation and other rights to refugees who are recognized through the governmental asylum procedure. In addition, the OCM has administered several small pilot projects in bateyes, sugar cane harvesting communities, in San Pedro de Macoris. The programs support vulnerable Haitians, their Dominican-born descendants, and other needy Dominicans through income generating and documentation activities. UNHCR’s Santo Domingo office is also working to strengthen partnerships with NGOs, including Catholic Relief Services, the Haitian Apostolate of the Catholic Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, and the Jesuit Refugee Services among other partners, to provide material assistance and legal and social services to asylum seekers and refugees in the Dominican Republic. Contact: (809) 274-3535 ext 151, 261, 262 |