“Some of these kids”, reported ICMC secondee, Rebecca Trego, “were abandoned or abused by their caretakers. Others became separated from their parents during the disaster and were too young to remember their home phone numbers or address”.

Immediately following the earthquake, thousands of wounded Haitian victims crossed into neighboring DR for treatment. Many such medical evacuees were children, separated from their families or caregivers. It is estimated that over 400 minors received support and protection from the Dominican government’s National Child Protection entity, CONANI (Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia), since the 2010 disaster.

With the support of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), ICMC is working closely with the government of the Dominican Republic to resolve these cases and give stranded children a future with the care and protection they need.

As part of these efforts, Trego—a bi-lingual child welfare expert—was seconded from the USCCB Children’s Unit for a six-week mission focused on finding solutions for 20 vulnerable Haitian children, ranging in age from 15 months to 17 years.

Trego joined auxiliary social workers from CONANI on two fundamental trips across the border to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to trace, find, and interview families and caregivers. The information gleaned during these meetings allowed social workers to confirm the children’s relationships, assess the reasons for separation, facilitate communication between the caregivers and minors, and help both the adults and children process the experience of finding a lost family member after prolonged separation.

In one case, Trego was further able to accompany a six-year old child back to Haiti where he was reunited with his overjoyed parents. The child’s father, who had taken the youngster to the DR for medical treatment, had been forced to return to Haiti to care for his wife and two other children.

The interviews with the children also led Trego to uncover a pattern of physical abuse that was occurring in one of the shelters. CONANI began investigations immediately, and four children – ages 9-12 – were moved to a safe shelter. In at least eight of the 20 cases, Trego identified trafficking concerns and made recommendations to CONANI and UNHCR for follow-up protection measures to be put in place.

“The success of this mission shows us the importance of quickly identifying, assessing, and protecting vulnerable children as they flee and cross borders as part of huge mixed migration flows,” said ICMC U.S. Liaison Officer, Jane Bloom, who oversaw the DR project. “ICMC hopes to build on this experience and conduct similar child protection missions when and where they are needed.”

Press release: Stranded Haitian children find new hope for the future (451.5 KB)