International
The border market with the Dominican Republic, Haitians’ solution to stock up
On Mondays and Fridays, when the binational market of Dajabón (northwest of the Dominican Republic) officially operates, thousands of Haitians crowd at the border to cross the neighboring country and stock up on items that are scarce in their territory and also to sell their products.
This Monday is no exception. At 8 o’clock in the morning and under the strong surveillance of the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cesfront) and the intelligence services, the Dominican Republic opens the border gate. On the other hand, thousands of Haitians, mainly women, have been waiting since the early hours of the morning for the binational market to begin.
A Cesfront official tells EFE that on Mondays and Fridays about 35,000 Haitians can cross the gate, many of whom come in search of food products such as bananas, eggs, salami, rice and flour, due to the deep crisis that their country is experiencing and insecurity.
According to the Food Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the lack of food leads to almost half of the Haitian population, that is, 4.97 million people out of a total of 11 million, facing acute food insecurity and, of these, 1.64 million are in phase 4 of emergency of the Integrated Classification of Food Security Phases (CIF).
But Haitians don’t just come to buy, others come to offer their products. This is the case of Archibald Wilfred, 45, a resident of the Haitian town of Ouanaminthe (just a few meters from the border) and who for six years has had a food products position in the binational market.
“Now I sell much more food than before because, unfortunately, there is not much food there. There is very little food and there is no money anymore,” he tells EFE Archibald, whose customers are mainly merchants from various cities in Haiti, even the capital, who later resell the merchandise.
When asked about his opinion about the deployment of a foreign mission in his country, Archibald considers that “the arrival of troops is 50 percent of the solution. If they arrive it will be good because people expect to have security and with them the gangs will end,” he confides.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, many Haitian policemen try to put order and separate into groups the thousands of people who are waiting to reach the border bridge in a relatively orderly manner, before entering the Dominican side.
Despite police efforts, on several occasions the situation becomes chaotic because many want to be the first to cross, which causes pushes, blows and falls.
In Dajabón, the Dominican authorities proceed to take the biometric data of the thousands of people who enter, as a way to control entry into the country.
Already inside the binational market, there are thousands of people who move in an unstoppable tingling, between shouting and pushing, buying and selling all kinds of products, mainly food, as can be seen in the long line of wheelbrows, ‘tricycles’ and packages on the heads of women returning to Haiti.
Through the border, not only do sellers and buyers enter and leave. Half an hour after the border gate is opened, the first truck of the Dominican Directorate General of Migration arrives that transports dozens of Haitians deported from the country.
María, a young woman of about 30 years old, gets off “the truck,” crying and trembling: “I have lived all my life in Dajabón, but my mother never did the papers for me,” she says.
“I went out to buy something and migration got me into the truck. I don’t know what I’m going to do now,” he adds, as he walks slowly towards Ouanaminthe.
And it’s not the only truck. Throughout the day, there are several who arrive with people who are expelled, a policy that continues despite the calls of the UN and human rights organizations to cease deportations from the Dominican Republic in the face of violence and the critical situation in Haiti.
International
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
A U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean killed three people on Saturday, according to Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, marking the latest in a series of attacks in international waters.
The United States has deployed ships to the Caribbean and sent fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of a large military force that Washington says is aimed at curbing drug trafficking.
“This vessel, like all the others, was known to our intelligence for being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling,” Hegseth stated on X. “Three narcoterrorists were aboard the vessel during the attack, which took place in international waters,” he added.
Experts argue that the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial executions, even if the targets are known traffickers.
Washington has yet to publicly provide evidence that the targeted individuals were actively smuggling drugs or posed a threat to the United States.
Hegseth said the U.S. would continue “hunting… and killing” suspected traffickers. He also shared video footage of the strike, showing the vessel being hit and engulfed in flames. As in previous videos, sections of the ship were blurred, making it impossible to verify the number of people on board.
The United Nations called on Friday for Washington to halt its attacks.
International
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
At least 23 people were killed and 11 others injured in an explosion at a supermarket in Hermosillo, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local authorities reported on Saturday.
“So far, there are 23 confirmed deaths and 11 injured, including minors,” said Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo in a video message. He added that the injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city.
“I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the causes of the incident and assign responsibility where appropriate,” Durazo said.
The explosion occurred at a Waldo’s store in downtown Hermosillo. Local authorities confirmed that the incident was not an attack nor related to any violent act against civilians.
Meanwhile, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences on X, offering sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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