1 Dominican Republic Country Profile

Generic Information

The Dominican Republic is a country located in the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two sovereign states. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation by area (after Cuba) at 48,671 square kilometers (18,792 sq mi), and third by population with approximately 10 million people, of which approximately three million live in the metropolitan area of Santo Domingo, the capital city.

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a generic country overview, please consult the following sources:

Wikipedia Country Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic

IMF Country Information: http://www.imf.org/external/country/DOM/index.htm

Economist Intelligence Unit: http://country.eiu.com/dominican-republic

(*note - this is a paid service)

Humanitarian Information

Sharing the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is an upper-middle-income country ranking 101 out of 187 in the 2015 Human Development Index.

Over the past decades, the country has experienced sustained economic growth and stability, and has succeeded in meeting the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of hungry people by 2015. However, income distribution remains unequal, quality of health services is inadequate, and poverty still affects just over 40 percent of the population, with 10.4 percent living in extreme poverty. Most poor families live in urban areas and 63 percent of them are headed by women.

Poverty and inequality, coupled with a lack of diverse diets and a weak agricultural structure, lie at the roots of food insecurity and overlapping nutritional problems. These include chronic undernutrition, which affects 7 percent of children under 5; overweight; and anemia, which affects one in three women of reproductive age and up to 61 percent of children aged between 6 and 11 months.

The Dominican Republic suffers from recurrent natural shocks and, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, it is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In 2016, after suffering from drought in rural areas, the country was indirectly affected by Hurricane Matthew that hit Haiti, as well as by severe floods as a consequence of continuous rains in the northern region.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been present in the Dominican Republic since 1969. Its work focuses on strengthening national capacities and programmes in the areas of nutrition, social protection, emergency preparedness and disaster risk management. WFP works in partnership with the government, contributing to the National Development Strategy and also supports the development of public policies to reduce hunger and malnutrition.

Further humanitarian information can be found at the following links:

World Food Programme: https://www1.wfp.org/countries/dominican-republic

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: https://www.unocha.org/rolac

Facts and Figures

Wolfram Alpha:https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=dominican+republic

World Bank:http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/dominicanrepublic

Population Information: http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/dominican-republic-population/

1.1 Dominican Republic Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
- Government
- Humanitarian Community

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Natural Hazards
Type	Occurs	Comments / Details
Drought	Yes	Due to the increase activity of atmospheric phenomena in the region of the Caribbean, during recent decades there has been an increase in the severity of violent natural phenomena and droughts. The effects of climate change in the rain seasons have caused a change in yearly patterns in the Dominican Republic. The drought periods have also changed, becoming longer throughout the decades. In the past 50 years, the Dominican Republic has been affected by droughts that reduce the agricultural and milk production, increase animal deaths, lower dam and river water levels, increase rural migration and affect the food security of communities. Droughts result in slow onset emergencies, not perceived until their effects are shown in development indicators later on. The main droughts which have caused significant damage to the country have occurred in the years 1957, 1960, 1967, 1997, 2000, 2010 and 2014. The Dominican Republic and Haiti also suffer increased desertification, especially in the border areas due to incorrect management of soil, which combined with lack of rain have caused 70% of the Dominican territory to be partially or completely affected by desertification, in the southwest, northwest and east of the country. 40% of droughts that have occurred from 1966 to 2000, were recorded in the northwestern part of the country, specifically in the provinces of Santiago, Valverde, Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi, and south of the National District. However, agricultural drought affects mainly the south and west and the border with Haiti.
Earthquakes	Yes	The whole island has a high vulnerability to seismic hazard due to its location in the zone between the North American tectonic plate and the Caribbean tectonic plate. In Dominican Republic, the highest risk is concentrated in the Cibao Valley, the northern mountains, the Samaná Peninsula, the Atlantic coast and the northern insular slope. The history of earthquakes on the island reports that there were multiple earthquakes throughout the decades - six of them considered devastating in the years 1562, 1783, 1842, 1887, 1904 and 1946, with and approximate recurrence period of 70 ± 10 years for earthquakes of great destructive power on Hispaniola. The 1946 quake in Samaná Bay was of magnitude 8.1 and since then there has not been an earthquake of similar magnitude on the Dominican Republic. It caused a tsunami with waves of 5 meters. The following events recorded magnitudes of 6.4 to 6.5 degrees on the Richter Scale: September 2003 in Puerto Plata, leaving 2 dead and damage to productive infrastructure, buildings, hospitals and schools. On March 21, 2010 there was a 4.6 magnitude earthquake near the towns of Valverde and Santiago. There was no damage. On April 18, 2010 there was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Dominican Republic, felt especially in Santo Domingo and East of the country. There was no loss of life or significant property damage caused by the earthquake directly, although as a result of the earthquake there was a strong surge that killed three people who were sailing in waters near Isla Saona. On May 16, 2010 there was a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Puerto Rico, which was also felt in the Dominican Republic, no damage. There are many municipalities qualified as having High Seismic Risk. These municipalities range from the northwest corner to the northeast of the island, and include Montecristi, Mao, Santiago, Salcedo, Moca, San Francisco de Macoris, La Vega, Nagua and Samaná. Also, in the south there are particular flaws in the municipalities of San Juan de la Maguana, Neyba and Jimaní. According to the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), 75% of 61 schools evaluated in Santo Domingo are seismically vulnerable. The number could be extrapolated to the rest. According to the Dominican School of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA), 30% of the buildings in the country are classified as "informal construction" and do not follow the set construction criteria and are therefore vulnerable to high intensity quakes. Source: Analysis of disaster risks and vulnerabilities in the Dominican Republic. Consulting for the European Commission, 2009.
Epidemics	Yes	Dengue In 2012 the country recorded an epidemic that killed 68 people officially registered and affected 9,284. Meanwhile, the previous year had low incidence rates with 2,324 cases and two deaths reported. Tuberculosis In 1996 there was an epidemic in the country, with 6,302 cases. This incidence took on a downward trend until 2004, with fewer than 5,000 cases, but in 2005 there was an increase in the number of cases, with a total of 5,003. In 2007, the incidence rate was 42.3 tuberculosis per 100,000 inhabitants. Tuberculosis is the first opportunistic infection in people with HIV (about 12.2%) and in 2005, 8.6% of TB cases were HIV positive. Malaria Malaria mainly affects rural and suburban populations of the provinces classified as high risk of transmission. The species is native parasite Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine sensitive. Outbreaks are associated with internal and external migration of temporary workers linked to agriculture and construction, with natural phenomena that cause high rainfall, mainly hurricanes, and the limited response capacity at the local level. Between 2000 and 2004, the annual average number of cases was 1,490 and increased to 2,354 in 2004 (incidence rate of 27.5 per 100,000 population). In 2005, 3,837 cases (64% in men) were recorded, with the most affected age group being the population of 10 to 49 years (73.8% of cases), and 75% of these cases occurred in rural areas. For 2008, 1,840 cases of malaria were reported, resulting in a 3.4% of the population being at risk of malaria. HIV / AIDS HIV and AIDS is one of the leading causes of death for people between 15 and 49. The prevalence is 1.1 % with a slight downward trend. Cholera Because of the cholera epidemic in neighbouring Haiti, which started in October 2010, a cholera outbreak was also recorded in the Dominican Republic in November 2010. The outbreak occurred in the main towns and rural areas with services deficit of water, sanitation and hygiene, and the provinces of the Dominican-Haitian border. In February 2011 the disease was considered endemic epidemic by the Ministry of Public Health. A total of 19 provinces were affected. Monitoring of cholera is included in the monthly surveillance of the Ministry of Public Health. The outbreak has been reduced and controlled since then. Influenza A H1N1 Since the beginning of the epidemiological surveillance of influenza A H1N1 virus in 2009, a total of 491 cases for the influenza A H1N1 virus were confirmed in the Dominican Republic. (Source: Bulletin secretary of state for public health and welfare Dominican Republic, November 3, 2009). Ebola Ebola virus is a serious, often fatal, infectious viral disease that causes hemorrhagic fever and affects animals and people, the exact origin of which is unknown. This epidemic represented a threat to the health of the world population. Although for the Dominican Republic the risk was low, in 2014 the Ministry of Public Health worked along with other sectors to avoid the introduction of this virus into the territory. Therefore, he advised knowing and complying with the recommendations issued by this agency and PAHO / WHO (Source: Boletín informativo DIGPRES semana del 03 al 09 de noviembre 2014: ébola enfermedad por el virus del ébola (EVE), October 14, 2014). Chikungunya Symptoms of chikungunya, which also include headache and muscular pain, usually appear three to seven days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. The disease is only rarely fatal, but the joint pain it causes can last for months or even years for some. The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Public Health, with support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in May 2014 released a guide for the clinical management of patients, distributing it to public and private hospitals throughout the country (Source: Dominican Republic is first country in the Americas to publish guidelines for clinical management of chikungunya, July 17, 2014). Zika On 23 January 2016, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reported the presence of the Zika virus in the Dominican Republic after ten cases were confirmed, eight were contracted locally and two were imported from El Salvador. After confirming the circulation of the virus, the Dominican government issued Decree 7-16 on 23 January 2016, which instructed the Ministry of Health to coordinate actions to detect and confirm cases of dengue, chikungunya and Zika, address and implement a guidance strategy and to reduce the number of mosquito-breeding sites (Source: Dominican Republic: Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus outbreak DREF Operation Final Report n° MDRDO008, November 14, 2016). Covid-19 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. The Dominican Republic has local capacity to diagnose the COVID-19 through the National Public Health Laboratory. The Ministry of Health advises of mandatory quarantine or self-quarantine for COVID-19 positive patients (Source: Coronavirus Information for the Dominican Republic, July 7, 2020). The last updates published by the Epidemiology Department about COVID-19, 27,370 confirmed cases (693 new infected) have been reported in the Dominican Republic: 2,726 are in hospital isolation, 8,637 in home isolation, 15,338 recovered and 669 deceased (7 deaths), lethality = 2.44%; per million habitants, the case fatality rate is 64.03. 175 cases have been found in the Intensive Care Unit; 44.43% in Santo Domingo City, 34.29% in Santiago and 9.71% in Duarte Province. Median age of total cases: 39 years, interquartile range is from 28 to 53 years. 54.06% (14,795) are men and 75.92% (20,779) of the cases are concentrated in 12 municipalities. In total, there are 223 COVID-19 positive health workers, of whom 65.47% (146) are female. In the last 4 weeks, the positivity of the processed samples is 19.89%. (Diary bulletin).
Extreme Temperatures	No
Flooding	Yes	Floods are one of the largest and most regular natural disasters in the Dominican Republic. Throughout the years between 1966 and 2000, higher impact floods in the country have had recurrence periods between 4 and 6 years. The years of most intense recorded flooding have been: 1970, 1975, 1981, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2007. From a total of 464 registered floods in the period 1966-2000, just over 50% were caused by rainfall proper to the rainy season, and only 8.4% to extreme weather events (tropical storms, hurricanes and tornado). About 46% of floods registered in the period from 1966 to 2000 were concentrated in major urban areas such as the National District and several cities in the subregion of Central and Eastern Cibao. The rest were located in throughout entire territory, with a high incidence in rural areas. The cause of these events is not only the level of precipitation that may occur during the rainy season but also inappropriate or inefficient use of the river system, particularly in Yuma, Camú and Yaque del Norte. Most recent floods: November 2003. Flooding on the lower areas of the rivers Yaque del Norte and Yuna. Affected Population: 65,848 people. May 24, 2004. The floods caused by the overflowing of the White River of Jimani, affected 5,000 people, out of which 500 lost their lives, in the municipality of Jimani and specifically the community Jimani and El Limon, Between October and November 2007, heavy rains caused by tropical storms Noel and Olga caused extensive flooding, loss of life, destroying more than 38,000 hectares of crops and causing the displacement of over 130,000 people. On June 16, 2008, storm Fay affected the country through La Altagracia province, killing four people. Due to its rains, 11,760 people were displaced, 446 homes were affected, 30 areas were isolated, and five bridges and highways with considerable damage. On August 26, 2008, tropical storm Gustav entered the Pedernales province, killing 8 people due to landslides, some 6,255 people were evacuated, and more than 1,239 houses were damaged and 12 totally destroyed. Around 50 localities were held incommunicado due to flooding. Already on September 3, 2008, the Hanna storm was causing heavy rains to the north and northwest regions, as well as in the capital. Hundreds of relatives were displaced without deaths. Between September 6 and 8, 2008, news reports indicate that Category Two Hurricane Ike caused the death of a farmer in the Dominican Republic, the displacement of 11,915 people, two destroyed bridges and five blocked roads. Between November 4 and 5, 2010, Hurricane Tomás led to the evacuations of 8,400 people, due to the rains, 1,680 houses were affected and in some areas rainfall was recorded with values of 263 and 228 mm respectively. On August 4, 2011, storm Emily arrived disorganized in the country, but caused heavy rains, causing the deaths of 3 drowned people. The storm displaced some 7,534 people across the nation and the damage was severe in agriculture, although no figures were specifically provided. Days later, on August 22, 2011, Hurricane Irene, category two, affected the north coast of the Dominican Republic and produced winds with storm intensity and prolonged rains. 31,900 people were displaced, 85 communities were isolated, 2,300 houses were affected, of which 16 houses destroyed. On August 23, 2012, Hurricane Isaac, category one, on its way through the Caribbean, affected the country and caused the evacuations of more than 7,800 people from the lowlands, isolated 10 areas, destroyed 49 homes and left large electricity without part of Santo Domingo. It caused intense rains in Azua, Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana and Elías Piña, in the West and Southwest of the country, in Jimaní it caused agriculture to collapse. Although it did not directly impact the national territory, Hurricane Sandy, on October 24 it left intense rains that caused the evacuation of 26,000 people, 4,670 flooded homes in different areas of the country, 141 isolated communities and several destroyed bridges. The rains left damage to agriculture for RD $ 993.3 million, according to official figures. On August 28, 2015, Tropical Storm Erika affected almost the entire country, leaving 823 homes damaged and 7,345 people displaced. It blocked 400 roads and left many power cuts, causing losses in the banana harvest for RD $ 400 million. Hurricane Matthew, category 5, on October 3, 2016, left four dead, more than 200 houses destroyed and nearly 18,000 displaced people. Until Irma appeared, Matthew considered as the most powerful in almost a decade, leaving at least 573 dead in Haiti. Sources: https://indrhi.gob.do/2017/01/10/el-indrhi-construye-obras-destruidas-por-las-inundaciones-en-el-noroeste/ https://www.coe.gob.do/index.php/noticias/item/299-coe-realiza-ejercicio-fahum-2019-practicar-respuesta-a-emergencia-por-desastres-naturales
Insect Infestation	No
Mudslides	No
Volcanic Eruptions	No
High Waves / Surges	Yes	The shores of the Caribbean are exposed to high risk of tsunami. The most common cause is usually a local earthquake, but the tsunami caused by regional and distant movements, volcanic eruptions and submarine landslides also threaten low-lying coastal areas. The earthquakes that occur in the Dominican Republic with its epicentre in the sea and reach a substantial size, can produce tidal waves or tsunamis on coasts near the epicentre. According to available records, the Dominican Republic has been hit by nine significant tsunamis in 1751, 1769, 1770, 1775, 1842, 1843, 1887, 1946 and 1953, however, the quantification of damages is known in detail only for years 1946 and 1953.
Wildfires	Yes
High Winds	Yes	The most recent major hurricanes and tropical storms recorded are: Hurricane Georges, September 1998. The most destructive in recent years. Tropical Storm Kyle, 2014 Tropical Storm Erika,2015 Tropical Storm Fred, 2015 Hurricane Mateo,2016 Hurricane Harvey ,2017 Hurricane Irma ,2017 Hurricane Katia,2017 Hurricane José, 2017 Hurricane Maria,2017
Other Comments	N/A
Man-Made Issues
Civil Strike	No
International Conflict	No
Internally Displaced Persons	No
Refugees Present	Yes	According to UNHCR, the Dominican Republic is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and enacted national asylum legislation in 1983. It hosts some 725 refugees with over 200 asylum cases that have remained pending with the authorities over the last ten years. The majority of this population is of Haitian nationality, and entered the country seeking protection during the political turmoil of the 1990s and the early 2000s.
Landmines / UXO Present	No
Other Comments	N/A

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile.

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Seasonal Effects on Transport
Transport Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Primary Road Transport	From May to November	Expected in hurricane season: prolonged heavy rains cause landslides that can lead to collapse of bridges and roads, partial or complete obstruction of roads. Affect the increase in transport fares. Strongly affects the shortage of markets and increased consumer prices.
Secondary Road Transport	From May to November	Very likely negative impact. Prolonged heavy rains can cause overflow of roads and landslides that block roads and cause their collapse, and therefore can result in partial or complete inaccessibility.
Rail Transport	N/A
Air Transport	From May to November	Likely negative impact. The closure of airports is likely when hurricanes or tropical storms occur. There may be suspended flights on the day of hurricane or tropical storm. Depending on the extent of the damage occurring in airport infrastructure, normal services are restored. Flood Damage can occur on track and taxiways, communication failure and other damage. Deterioration is common in deposit areas with metal roof structures made of aluzinc.
Waterway Transport	From May to November	Likely negative impact. High winds and storm surges affect the physical infrastructure of ports and docks, and the operation and movement of loading and unloading of ships. Ships are also affected by strong waves that occur when a hurricane or tropical storm is approaching. Earthquakes are also likely to produce strong waves and even tsunamis, preventing the movement of vessels and causing damage to coastal infrastructure.

Rainy season (or similar) from June to November. Storms and torrential downpours generate severe flooding in main streets and avenues in all towns and the capital. Daily activities, such as trade, transport, education and other work, can be seriously affected. Due to the deficiencies of the sewerage system, the filter and drains in most of the country cause overflow of roads.

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling
Activity Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Storage	From May to November	No threat affects the storage of packaged foods. The stores are sufficient to allow entry of trucks if necessary, in the event of heavy rain or other adverse weather event capacity.
Handling	From May to November	No threat affects the handling of the materials which is performed within the store. Not required for pre-provisioning.
Other	N/A	N/A

Rainy season (or similar) from June to November. Seasonal effects on storage might be due to over flooding of installations or rain pouring in due to improper infrastructure. This is considered though a low probability as government and private sector storage infrastructure is regularly well built to withstand torrential rain. Commodities and supplies though should be covered within the warehouse or hub to ensure if water drips from ceiling openings, they do not affect the supplies and commodities.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Dominican government has the responsibility first and foremost to coordinate the lifesaving, search, rescue and aid to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies occurring on its territory. Therefore, the State has the primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory.

The Dominican government’s National Emergency Commission (CNE), established by Government institutions, civil society organizations and international agencies, is in charge of defining and establishing the institutional and regulatory framework for government and civil society coordination in preparedness and response initiatives with regard to natural disasters. The Commission’s operational structure is the Center for Emergency Operations (COE), which is responsible for coordinating the operational aspects of the response with all government institutions, private sector, and the humanitarian community. The country has diverse plans, protocols and procedures that establish the coordination and activation of the national emergency response.

In January 2013 the President of the Dominican Republic created by decree the commission for handling natural disasters within the Ministry of the Presidence. Its fundamental purpose is the improvement of the effectiveness of military and civil defense in case of natural disaster through the creation of a commission as interagency coordination body.

Act 257 enacted of July 17, 1966 created the Office of Civil Defense for the preparation and execution of all emergency functions arising from disasters caused by flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, fire, shortage or distribution deficient supply of materials, to protect the lives of the citizens of Dominican Republic. These functions include coordination of the functions of the various departments of the State, its Autonomous Organizations, Churches Auxiliary Fire, Rescue, Engineering, Police, Medical, Communication and Private Entities. The Civil Defence Board is constituted by all the Ministries of State and representatives of Autonomous and Private Institutions.

Law 147-02 of September 22, 2002 on risk management, creates the National System for Prevention, Mitigation, and Disaster Response, as a mechanism of the executive branch to implement a set of measures suitable for management risks whose main objective is the socialization of prevention, risk reduction and mitigation, restoration service and a quick and sustainable recovery.

The National Prevention, Mitigation and Disaster Response CNPMR is the governing body of the sector risk management of the National System and will be chaired by the President and in his absence will be represented by the officer that the delegate.

Covid-19 Government Structure - Response

The Dominican government under the leadership of the Presidency has established five commissions with the purpose of mitigating the impacts of the pandemic COVID-19.

High-Level Commission for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19: is in charge of leading the actions of the Dominican Government in the execution of the coronavirus prevention and control protocols (COVID-19).
Economic and Employment Affairs Commission: is in charge of addressing the economic and employment issues caused by the health crisis of the coronavirus COVID-19. Responsible for the implementation of the ‘Quédate en casa’ or “Stay at Home” program and the Employee Solidarity Assistance Fund (FASE).
Social Affairs Commission: is in charge of leading together with the government social assistance institutions and representatives of social organizations and churches to guarantee permanent assistance to the most vulnerable population in the country, with the distribution of raw and cooked food.
Emergency and Health Management Committee: to combat COVID-19 is in charge of Developing and supervising implementation of preventive strategies to mitigate and reverse the scope of COVID-19; Policies and measures to increase the response capacity of health sector institutions and respond to emergencies and critical citizens. It promotes public-private partnerships to increase the response of the national health system to the pandemic.
Citizen Oversight Commission for COVID-19.

The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) is the institution with the greatest responsibility in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19), whose main objective is to implement the necessary actions to safeguard all Dominicans against this disease.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Humanitarian Community

The Humanitarian Country Team (EHP) exists to ensure timely, predictable and effective response of the humanitarian community to support the efforts of the Dominican government to a disaster by strengthening the strategic and operational coordination, according to the principles laid down in the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations 46/182.

In particular, the EHP serves as a forum for decision-making and direction of emergency action in case of major events that exceed the capabilities of the emergency response system of the country. The Humanitarian Country Team will be composed of a management level and a technical level.

Executive Level:

The Humanitarian Country Team is chaired by the Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations System (UNS).

The EHP consists of:

Heads of Agencies of the United Nations System (UNS), including the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Directors of Non - Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are a member of the International IASC worldwide with a presence in the country.
Representatives of Non - Governmental Organizations or national NGO platforms, with a mandate, expertise and capacity of humanitarian response.
Representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Dominican Red Cross.
The World Bank as coordinator of the donor community in the country and aid agencies and other donors that have emergency units in the Dominican Republic.
The President of the National Emergency Commission of the country and if a special representative was appointed by the Government.
The composition of the Humanitarian Country Team may be amended in accordance with the evolution of emergency, when membership of a new humanitarian actor requested and have the support of the Humanitarian Country Team and / Coordinator / a Humanitarian / Resident Coordinator.

Technical Level: Humanitarian Task Force

Humanitarian Task Force (ETH) is coordinated by the coordinator / UNETT.
The coordination of the ETH, is responsible for the technical secretariat, convenes meetings, identifies the agenda, conduct coordination and monitoring, as well as facilitate the exchange of information between team members.

The ETH is composed of the technical focal points designated by the members of the Humanitarian Country Team's partners / additional partners working in the humanitarian field.

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List.

1.2 Dominican Republic Regulatory Departments and Quality Control

Overview

Overview

Most countries require that exporters and importers include, within their trade documents, attach official documents such as: sanitary, phytosanitary, certificates of no objection, among others. In the case of the Dominican Republic, below are the the main entities involved in the export activity:

National Committee for the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

The committee carries out the following activities:

Prepare the standards by which the Committee will be governed; review the laws of matters within its competence, recommend amendments to the Legislative Branch, through the Executive Branch; coordinate and execute the actions required for your fines.
Recommend the adaptation of the National Sanitary System of Phyto-zoos and Food Safety to respond to the following needs:
Protect the life of humans or animals from the risks derived from the presence of additives, contaminants, toxins or pathogenic organisms in food, beverages and feed.
Protect the life of people against diseases transmitted by plants or animals.
Protect animal life or preserve plants from pests, diseases or pathogenic organisms.
Prevent or limit other damages caused to the country, as a result of the entry, establishment, irradiation or spread of pests.
Ensure the sanitary quality of its agricultural exports.
Protect the environment.
Prevent practices that may be misleading.
Protect the health of fish and wildlife.
Protect forests and wild flora.
Participate in the meetings of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization, and other organisms and events in which, regarding animal and plant health and food safety, the Dominican Republic is a party, observer or guest.
Recommend the measures and processes that best adapt to the interests of the Dominican Republic in cases of consultation and resolution of controversies related to the international commercialization of animals, plants, products and by-products of agricultural origin destined for their use; as well as to receive notifications, analyze and process them to the relevant sectors and follow up.
Disseminate issues related to the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical regulations, standards and guidelines in the national territory to reach all consumers, producers, importers, exporters and merchants in the Dominican Republic.
Choose the Designated National Authorities (DNA) to form the Committee's Commissions and Technical Missions and process their accreditations.
Serve as a body for consultation and analysis of the implications for national and international trade in the event of agricultural health and food security emergencies and recommend to the National Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Emergencies the establishment of the most appropriate measures and mechanisms to reduce negative impacts of this situation.

Ministry of Agriculture

The Secretary of State for Agriculture created the Department of Agri-Food Security (DIA), through the Resolution No. 18 of April 18, 2005, as a unit of the Undersecretary for Agricultural Extension and Training of said Secretariat.

The Department of Plant Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture

The department's objective is to prevent the introduction of pests that do not exist in the territory and to control existing ones, to prevent the spread to new areas. It also seeks to control the management and rational use of highly toxic chemicals that pollute the environment through the application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures to achieve harmony in Dominican agroecosystems.

General import requirements:

General phytosanitary import requirements for the Dominican Republic.
Matrix of general import requirements.
Imports of regulated goods of agricultural products such as garlic, onion, rice, beans, corn and sugar are protected by the trade agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Decree 114-98 of 16 of March 1998 and must undergo a different application.

Quarantine checkpoints

Quarantine checkpoints are sites for controlling the mobilization and importation of plants, products and by-products of plant origin, in order to prevent the introduction and subsequent spread of pests and diseases from quarantine through the flow of passengers and goods.

The control points of the Dominican Republic are classified as:

Border posts (Elías Piña, Jimaní, Dajabón and Pedernales).
Maritime ports (Caucedo multimodal, Santo Domingo, eastern Haina, western Haina, Boca Chica, San Pedro de Macorís, Luperón, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, Puerto Viejo, Arroyo Barril and Barahona)
International airports (Las Américas, Cibao-Santiago, La Isabela, Gregorio Luperón, La Romana, Catey, Punta Cana).

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratory contact details, see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List.

Laboratorio Veterinario Central

Monumental Avenue, #52, Los Girasoles,
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel. :(809) 564-7700 | Fax: (809) 560-0469

Dr. William A. Pichardo Santana, General Director.

The Laboratorio Veterinario Central (LAVECEN) is the national reference laboratory that supports the Agricultural Sector and the Ministry of Public Health, specifically with the diagnosis of animal health and zoonotic diseases; quality control of food, fodder, chemical residues in meats, fruits, vegetables, quality of agrochemical formulations, production of various biologicals and antigens for the veterinary industry, which serve as a support for the different health programs in the Dominican Republic.

Special permits for the export - transportation of products of plant and animal origin are processed from this laboratory together with the United States Plant and Animal Health Inspection Division (APPHIS-USDA).

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

Cayetano Germosén & Gregorio Luperón Av., Ensanche El Pedregal, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Central: (809) 560-4300
WhatsApp: (849) 356-6400 | (809) 200-6400
info@ambiente.gob.do

Sr. Angel Francisco Estevez Bourdierd, Minister.

They issue environmental permits and certificates for export of hazardous waste, permit for import / export of wood, permit for import of fauna or flora and Certificate of import of chemical substances. Applicable for the following products: Plants, fish, sand, wood, metal waste and metals.

Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance

Dr. Héctor Homero Hérnandez & Tiradentes Av., Ens. La Fe Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Tel: (809) 541-3121 E-mail: info@ministeriodesalud.gob.do ventanillaunica@ministeriodesalud.gob.do

Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, Minister

This institution issues the following permits:

	Import Permission for Medicines with Controlled Substances	Controlled Chemical Substances Export Permit
Modality	Health surveillance	Health surveillance
Type of Modality	Import Permit	Export Permit
Category	New	New
Service Cost	Free	Free
Response Time	Immediate	Immediate
Time of Realization	10 days	10 days
Presentation Channels	In person	In person
Service Description	The processing of import permits for controlled chemical substances to enter the country.	The processing of export permits for Controlled Chemical Substances to authorize their exit from the country.
Service Results	Import Permit Certificate	Export Permit Certificate
Areas of Responsibility	Sanitary Inspection Unit \| General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS).	Sanitary Inspection Unit \| General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS)
Who is it for:	Private Companies / Legal Entities	Private Companies / Legal Entities
Requirements for obtaining the service	Copy of the Certificate for Import, Export, Manufacture or Trade of Controlled Drugs (If it is expired or does not have this document, please review the requirements for the Class B Controlled Drugs Registration service (for Private Establishments or for Hospitals or Other Public Institutions). Sealed and signed letter of request or communication from the exporter addressed to the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products referring: General data of the exporter (Name, address, telephone, email, RNC). General information of the importer (Country, name, address, telephone, email). Name and quantity of the medicine to be imported. Name and quantity of the controlled base substance containing the medicine. Presentation (Ampoule, Blister, Tablets, Tablets, etc.). Drug Registration Health number. Indicate the country of origin of the medicine. Indicate the port of embarkation and disembarkation of the medicine. Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air). Copy of the import Proforma or Commercial invoice (Legible and without erasures, in Spanish or translated, Visa by: ARAPF, INFADOMI, etc. (As applicable), sealed and signed by the importing company) that contains the following: Name of the raw material of the controlled substance. Amount of medication. Country of origin. Expiration date. Unit price. Total value. Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air). To complete the process and to authorize the customs clearance of the controlled substance, the user must deposit: Copy of the import permit granted by the MSP-DNCD. Note: Of all the documents, you must attach four (4) sets of the file.	Sealed and signed letter of request or communication from the exporter addressed to the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products referring: General data of the exporter (Name, address, telephone, email, RNC). General information of the importer (Country, name, address, telephone, email). Name and quantity of the controlled chemical substance to be exported. Indicate the country of origin of the medicine. Indicate the port of embarkation and disembarkation of the medicine. Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air).
Procedure	Prepare the documentation referred to in the requirements and then deposit it in the Single Window of Services of the Ministry of Public Health for the purposes of processing the file.

Working hours – Contact

Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Héctor Homero Hernández &Tiradentes Av., Ens. La Fe, Santo Domingo, D. N.

Coordinates: 18.4893599, -69.9306018

(809) 541-3121, Ext. 1601 / 1602 / 1603

ventanillaunica@ministeriodesalud.gob.do

1.3 Dominican Republic Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption
Customs Clearance
- General information
- Requirements of the customs clearance document
Transit regime

Duties and Tax Exemption

Tax Payment Exemption Request, pursuant to Administrative Provision No. 7204.

Service description:

This service consists of applying what is established in Administrative Provision No. 7204, which renders the collection of ITBIS ineffective for certain Medical Devices, such as cardiac marker systems, heart valves, oxygenators, endovascular prostheses, among others. The interested party directs the communication to the General Director of Customs, requesting the application of exemption from the payment of the ITBIS under the Administrative Provision No. 7204 and deposits in the Correspondence and File area of the General Directorate of Customs Headquarters with the required documents.

Requirements:

Communication addressed to the General Director of Customs requesting the Exemption from Payment of Taxes pursuant to Administrative Provision No. 7204.
Bill of Lading (BL or AWB).
Single Customs Declaration (DUA).
Commercial Invoice.
Tax Settlement Report.

Service cost:

According to what is established Administrative Resolution No. 7204 (this may vary).

Time to provide the service: Two (2) business days.

Source: http://www.servicios.dominicana.gob.do/servicio.php?id=1871

http://www.servicios.dominicana.gob.do

Emergency response

In the table below, indicate which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and whether there are others.

Agreements / Conventions descriptions	Ratified by country?
Member of the WCO (World Customs Organization)	Yes, July 28, 2004
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention	Yes, June 26, 1999, under notice PG0209B1
OCHA Model Agreement	Yes, September 24, 2014
Tampere Convention (on the provision of telecommunication resources for disaster mitigation and relief operations)	No
Regional agreements (on emergency / disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)	Yes, (DR CAFTA) May 24, 2004

Regular exemption regime (non-emergency response)

National legislation on humanitarian aid includes Customs Law No. 226 of 2006, which confirms that customs clearance of relief consignments for the purpose of export, transit, temporary admission and imports, and must be done as a priority. Agreements or assistance and cooperation agreements are concluded between some United Nations agencies and the Government of the Dominican Republic and are ratified in legislation. Relief shipments do not apply import duties or taxes.

Exemption for Non-Profit Institutions - DGA

General Directorate of Customs

It consists of the facilities of exemption from taxes and charges on the importation of materials and equipment for the use of non-profit institutions in the country according to Law 122-05. Aimed at: Any regularized Non-Profit Institution, whether Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Foundation, among others; duly recognized by their respective governing bodies and in compliance with current legal provisions.

Requirements:

Certification of the Governing Body of the corresponding requesting institution.
Form F-49 (General Directorate of Tax Legislation of the Ministry of Finance).
Single Customs Declaration (DUA).
Commercial invoice.
Bill of Lading (BL or AWB).
Tax Settlement Report (Printer) Inspected.

Service cost:

Containers or Vans
10 ’feet US $ 40.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
20’ feet US $ 75.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
40 ’or 45’ feet US $ 100.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
Courier cargo
1. For each kilo US $ 0.25 up to US $ 10.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
Consolidated cargo
1. For each kilo US $ 0.25 up to US $ 60.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
Loose / Bulk cargo
1. Per Metric Ton US $ 0.50 up to US $ 500.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.
Vehicles, Equipment and Machinery
1. Per Unit US $ 100.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos.

Steps: The interested party goes to the Governing Body and obtains the accredited resolution, after depositing the required documents with the Ministry of Finance, which will finally send the file to the General Directorate of Customs with the Exoneration Order, if approved.

Time to provide the service: Three (3) business days.

Organizational requirements to obtain tax-free status
United Nations agencies
Basic Agreement on Technical Assistance between the United Nations and the Dominican State Article 10 of June 11, 1974 (Letter G, Article X. Note 1, signed with UNDP. Agreement of September 15, 1987 (revision and renewal) signed with PAHO / WHO. Cooperation agreement with the Government of the Dominican Republic and WFP signed on September 19, 2006.
Non-governmental organizations
Specific agreement between the NGO and the Government of the Dominican Republic.

Exemption certificate application procedure

Procedure for requesting exemption from duties and taxes
Overview (include a list of necessary documentation)
BL / AWB Donation Certificate Certificate of value Certificate of origin Non-radioactive certificate (for food) Certificate of phytosanitary origin (for food) Export invoice
Process to follow (step by step or flow chart)
The Dominican Republic uses the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE) is a trade facilitation initiative, with the aim of streamlining the procedures necessary to carry out the relevant processes for importing and exporting goods, through the harmonization of processes and the incorporation of information technologies. Through the Single Window for Foreign Trade, you can carry out procedures for permits, licenses and certifications, before or after the arrival or departure of the merchandise in the Dominican Republic. Follow these steps through the VUCE System: Send a letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of State carefully exemptions, attaching the sales documentation. Fill out the specific forms of import tax exemption with the Ministry of Finance, General Direction of Exemptions. Application for import authorization to the Ministry of Food Agriculture or to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, in the case of medicines. Plant import permit Agri-food security or the Department of Animal and Plant Health. Request for the Withdrawal of Merchandise from the General Directorate of Customs. To speed up the process and reduce the delivery time of the merchandise: a letter to the customs collector with details requesting provisional shipments.

Requirements of the exemption certificate document

Document Requirements of the Duty and Tax Exemption Certificate (per product)
	Food	NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education)	Medicines	Vehicle & Spare Parts	Personal and office supplies	Telecommunication equipment
Bill	No, it applies to NGOs, not the UN.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	No, it applies to NGOs, not the UN.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.
AWB / BL / Other transport documents	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.
Donation / Non-commercial certificates	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.
Packing lists	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.	Yes, 1 original and 2 copies. Applies to the UN and to NGOs.
Other documents	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO) Certificate of phytosanitary origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO); Fumigation certificate (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)	Certificate of origin (1 original and 2 copies; applies to UN and NGO)
Additional notes
Additional notes: When the items are not donated, include the Commercial invoice, the International Agency must develop Certificates of Donation, value and value structure.

Document Requirements of the Duty and Tax Exemption Certificate (per product)

Food

NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education)

Medicines

Vehicle & Spare Parts

Personal and office supplies

Telecommunication equipment

Bill

No, it applies to NGOs, not the UN.

Yes, 1 original and 2 copies.