UNITED NATIONS, (CMC) – The United Nations has raised concern over a growing number of vulnerable Haitians, particularly pregnant women, new mothers and infants, being deported from the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), recent weeks have seen an increase in the deportation of women, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as children and newborn babies.

The UN agency emphasised the heightened risks these groups face being returned to Haiti, where access to basic services remains severely limited.

The IOM said that its staff at the Belladère border crossing in Haiti on Tuesday received 416 deportees, including 11 pregnant women and 16 women who are still breastfeeding.

“While IOM teams are not present during the deportation process itself, their efforts focus on the needs of deportees upon arrival, many of whom arrive in precarious and highly vulnerable conditions, often without any resources,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York.

He said that the IOM provides immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, water and hygiene kits, as well as first aid, medical referrals and psychosocial support.

Dujarric said special attention is given to maternal health, and temporary places to live are arranged for women who are breastfeeding when necessary.

He also updated on the situation in Haiti, where, he said, rising violence and recent funding cuts are undermining essential services and worsening the humanitarian situation, particularly in the Centre Department.

Dujarric said escalating violence on the part of armed groups has triggered mass displacement, with more than 51,000 people, over half of them children, fleeing recent attacks.

He said many are now stranded at makeshift sites or seeking safety in other regions.

The UN spokesperson noted that the University Hospital of Mirebalais – a major referral facility with about 300 beds – has suspended operations following a wave of insecurity in the area.

“Armed attacks, a mass prison break and the destruction of public infrastructure forced the hospital to gradually shut down. Before its closure, it served nearly 850 patients each day, including through maternal care and advanced cancer treatment,” Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, he said two other hospitals in the area – St Therese in Hinche and Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Artibonite – are now coming under increased strain and face critical shortages, including oxygen and emergency medical kits.

Since the closure of the University Hospital in Mirebalais, Dujarric said more than 200 patients have been treated for gunshot wounds, strokes, suspected cholera and malnutrition.

“St Therese alone has received more than 3,500 internally displaced people – tripling its outpatient caseload,” he said, adding that the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and humanitarian partners are working to relieve pressure on the health system in the Centre Department.

He said mobile clinics are being deployed to reach 30,000 people in host communities and displacement camps, in coordination with the Haitian authorities and the Catholic charity Caritas.

Dujarric said humanitarians are seeking US$908 million to support nearly four million people in Haiti this year.

He said only six per cent of the funding, US$57 million, has been received to date.