Dominican Republic

Heroina Arasena participated in a CRS savings group and was able to save enough money to open a kiosk where she sells snacks. Photo by Robyn Fieser/CRS

Heroina Arasena participated in a CRS savings group and was able to save enough money to open a kiosk where she sells snacks. Photo by Robyn Fieser/CRS

Between 20 and 28 percent of the populations lack access to governmental health care. Communicable diseases, in particular, diarrhea and acute respiratory illnesses, demonstrate key weaknesses in the health and social systems including a lack of access to basic services such as potable water, sewage systems and waste disposal. With less than 3 percent of the budget spend on education, children attending public schools spend 3 hours a day in the classroom. Haitian migrants are frequently denied their rights and their Dominican-born children cannot obtain the paperwork necessary to enroll in school or provide access to basic services.

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Stats

Population:10,088,598 (July 2012 est.)
Size:18,792 sq. mi.; sightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
People Served:121,881 (2012 est.)

History

Catholic Relief Services has had a presence in the Dominican Republic since March 1961 when urgent health needs brought CRS into the country at the end of the Trujillo regime to assist the most vulnerable. During the last 50 years, CRS has actively implemented projects on community development, health, HIV and AIDS, emergency assistance, human rights and peacebuilding throughout the country. The office currently is staffed with 9 national and 1 international staff.

Partners

Centro Bono
Caritas Dominicana
U.S. Department of Labor

Programs

Civil Society and Governance
Disaster Response
Peacebuilding


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