UN expert calls for quick end to Haiti-Dominican Republic border shutdown

FILE PHOTO: Haitians work on the construction site of a water channel from the Massacre river, a river shared between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, after Dominican President Luis Abinader announced a total border shutdown amid a conflict over the construction of the channel, in Ouanaminthe, Haiti September 15, 2023. REUTERS/Octavio Jones/File Photo

(Reuters) - A United Nations human rights expert called on the Dominican Republic and Haiti to resume talks to reach a quick, peaceful end to a total border shutdown launched by Dominican authorities on Friday, citing humanitarian and trade impacts.

U.N. expert for Haiti William O'Neill said on Monday the closure would impact jobs and businesses that depend on cross-border trade and have "dire" results on access to essential goods in Haiti, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis.