Dominican Republic — humanitarian situation

The Dominican Republic continues to address overlapping humanitarian challenges stemming from climate vulnerability, migration pressures, and recovery from Hurricane Melissa, which struck in October 2025 UNICEF. Approximately 25 percent of households remain highly vulnerable to climate shocks, with poor and hazard-prone communities disproportionately affected by the country's exposure to hurricanes, flooding, and droughts WFP. These environmental stressors have disrupted livelihoods, damaged infrastructure, and strained food systems across the small island developing state. Enhanced border enforcement measures have driven significant migration dynamics throughout 2026. The General Directorate of Migration reported more than 196,000 deportations between January and June, with plans announced to introduce biometric registration for access to Dominican-Haitian binational markets UNHCR. The government has contributed USD 20 million toward migration management and is reviewing draft reforms to the General Migration Law UNHCR. Venezuelan refugees and migrants continue to be present in the region, though specific figures for the Dominican Republic were not provided in available sources. Food security concerns persist as harvesting of the 2026 main season paddy crop is expected to yield slightly below-average production, with above-average import requirements anticipated for the 2026/27 marketing year FAO. Rice prices have increased slightly compared to year-earlier levels, while black bean prices showed moderate year-on-year decreases as of May FAO. WFP and partners have convened national stakeholders to strengthen coordination on fortified food monitoring, regulation, and quality assurance, securing consensus on an interinstitutional roadmap to improve monitoring systems and food fortification governance WFP. Regional dengue transmission has declined substantially, with cumulative incidence reaching 142 cases per 100,000 population as of epidemiological week 29, representing a 60 percent decrease compared to 2025 PAHO.