Punta Cana, August 5, 2025.- The tragic death of Natacha Désir, a 35-year-old Haitian migrant, and her baby, during her delivery at the Verón Municipal Hospital in Punta Cana, led to the indignation of the Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR).
In a statement published on August 4, the organization deplores serious medical negligence that led to this tragedy, which it places in a broader context of systemic discrimination against Haitian pregnant women in the Dominican Republic.
According to information gathered by GARR, Natacha Désir was admitted to hospital on 29 July. Despite obvious complications, she would not have received immediate medical assistance. It was only several hours later that a caesarean was performed, while his condition was already worse. The child did not survive, and the mother died shortly afterwards. The deceased's husband, Yonel Verre, claims to have repeatedly alerted hospital staff, in vain.
GARR denounces a policy of rejection of pregnant Haitian migrant women, fuelled by restrictive Dominican migration measures, in force since April 2025, which limit their access to care in public hospitals. He also cites the case of Lourdia Joseph, who died in May under similar circumstances, for having failed to attend the hospital.
In the face of this double death, the organisation speaks of a flagrant failure of the Dominican health system and of differential treatment based on origin. It requires the opening of an impartial investigation to establish responsibilities and calls on the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the family in its judicial proceedings.
Finally, GARR urges the Haitian authorities to take their responsibility to provide citizens with decent living conditions in their own country, in order to end the forced exile of thousands of compatriots.
W.E.
