“Some days, the stories are too heavy to carry. But we keep showing up, because they have no one else.” These words from Jean, an IOM staff member, at the Border Resource Centre in Ouanaminthe capture the emotional toll of daily humanitarian work — and the strength behind IOM’s daily operations along the Haitian border, where deported migrants arrive in vulnerable conditions. 

Deported migrants pass the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti in Ouanaminthe. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

Every day, dozens of deported migrants cross the border from the Dominican Republic into Haiti. Many arrive in extremely vulnerable conditions — exhausted, disoriented, and with no clear path forward. In Ouanaminthe, in Haiti’s Nord-Est department and in Belladère, in the Centre department, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with the Haitian National Office for Migration (ONM), stands ready to receive them with dignity, structure, and compassion. 

A Clear and Coordinated Process 

At the Belladère border crossing, IOM staff prepare to assist deported Haitians as they re-enter their home country. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

As soon as migrants arrive on the Haitian side of the border, they are assisted by IOM and ONM teams. IOM distributes a small token to each deportee as they cross the border — a basic registration tool used to track migrants who require targeted assistance based on vulnerability criteria — a simple object, but the first step in a vital process of humanitarian assistance. 

 

Migrants then walk a few meters to the ONM-run Border Resource Centre. Many arrive in silence, fatigued by the journey and the uncertainty that lies ahead. They are then seated and offered a hot meal, provided by an implementing partner of the World Food Programme. For some, it may be the first warm meal in days. 

An IOM staff member hands a meal to a recently deported migrant at the CRF in Belladère. Ensuring access to nutritious food is a priority, especially for families with children, as they adjust to life back in Haiti after deportation. Photo: IOM

Following the meal, ONM staff explain the next steps: what assistance will be provided and how. IOM and ONM staff also raise awareness on the risks associated with irregular migration, and inform them on the referral system so they can access other services, including securing an identification document. This moment helps guide migrants and offers a sense of stability in the midst of displacement. 

Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable 

A father and his daughter full of life despite having been recently deported to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

For many deported families, the return to Haiti is a moment of loss — but also of fragile hope. Santo, a father deported with his wife and daughter after nearly a decade abroad, expressed cautious optimism: “Despite everything, I’m happy to be back in my country. I want to build a future for my daughter — one where she won’t have to face what we went through.” 

Another father, visibly shaken after three months in the Dominican capital, shared his struggle: “I feel more at peace in Haiti despite the violence and the poverty. The psychological weight was unbearable.” 

At the Ouanaminthe Border Resource Center, an IOM staff member guides a recently deported boy. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

Josh, a ten-year-old boy, deported with his cousin and aunt, remembered the journey: “They came to our house and then put us in a truck with so many people.” Despite the difficult journey behind and the one awaiting him ahead in Haiti. 

For many deported migrants, returning home is just the beginning of another struggle—one of economic hardship, social exclusion, and the risk of gender-based violence. IOM ensures that deported women are not left to navigate these challenges alone.

IOM prioritizes assistance for the most vulnerable individuals — including pregnant women, unaccompanied minors, older persons, and those with medical needs. These vulnerable migrants, identified received at the border, are guided to the IOM office within the ONM-run CRF. One woman, travelling alone with her two children, said quietly, “I didn’t know what would happen next — but when they called my name and gave me help, it felt like a door was opening.” 

Recently deported migrants gather outside the CRF in Belladère, awaiting assistance from IOM and ONM. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

There, they are met one by one and receive tailored assistance — including transportation support to help them travel to the province where they plan to resettle, often where family or social networks await. When needed, additional supplies such as clothing, underwear, and basic hygiene items are also distributed to restore dignity and ensure personal care. 

 

Facing Daily Hardship with Resolve

IOM staff engage with newly arrived migrants at the CRF, offering information on available services. This orientation helps returnees understand the assistance they can access as they adjust to life back in Haiti. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

For IOM teams in Ouanaminthe and also at the isolated Belladère border town, this daily reality is emotionally taxing. The suffering they witness constantly is immense. Yet their commitment does not waver. Despite occasional tensions — particularly when explaining why assistance must be prioritized based on vulnerability criteria — the teams continue. Because they know their presence is essential.  

IOM vital assistance at border towns is only possible thanks to donor contributions. Photo: IOM/Antoine Lemonnier

This structured and life-saving operation is made possible thanks to the support of key donors, including France, the Republic of Korea, Canada, and the European Union through ECHO. Continued and increased funding remains essential to sustain and expand this response, especially as the scale and frequency of deportations persist. Their contributions ensure that IOM can continue to serve those returning with little more than the clothes on their backs — and the hope of finding safety, stability, and solidarity once again. 

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