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Religion and Refugees in Hispaniola

Tens of thousand of Haitians flee to the border to escape violence and deportation following the Dominican government's demand that Haitian's prove their legal status.

Will Grant reports from both sides of the border in Hispaniola to look at the role of the church in the world's forgotten migrant crisis.

Neighbours Haiti and the Dominican Republic have a long and turbulent history. Today a new conflict has arisen with the announcement by the Dominican government demanding all people of Haitian descent prove their legal status. Tens of thousands of Haitians have fled to the border to escape threats of violence and deportation.

Along the mountain border near Parc Cadeau, Will meets the Jesuit organisations operating on both sides of the border, leading the efforts to provide shelter, food and spiritual support. Despite national and international pressure, and even a visit from the Pope, the influential Dominican Cardinal NicolΓ΅s de JesΓΊs LΓ³pez RodrΓ­guez continues to back the court ruling and antagonise attempts for intercultural dialogue. In the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, Will meets the Jesuit priests who are protesting against their government and their own Church, asking them to help their Catholic neighbours.

Photo: Parc Cadeau, Haiti . Credit: Will Grant

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Jul 2016 18:32GMT

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  • Sun 31 Jul 2016 02:32GMT
  • Sun 31 Jul 2016 07:32GMT
  • Sun 31 Jul 2016 08:32GMT
  • Sun 31 Jul 2016 18:32GMT

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