Haitian vendors are crossing the border into Pedernales, the Dominican Republic, to sell goods as the country plunges into chaos.

Haitians sell grains, vegetables, fruits, clothes and living necessities at the market under the scorching sun, with temperatures at times surpassing 30 degrees Celsius.

This footage was filmed and produced 8 April 2024.

Storyline:
As the long-lasting conflict in Haiti has plunged many into poverty, some had to cross the border and became vendors at a market on the side of the Dominican Republic to make a living.

In the Dominican Republic's border city of Pedernales sits a market where Haitians are allowed to sell goods on Mondays and Fridays.

Haitians sell grains, vegetables, fruits, clothes and living necessities at the market under the scorching sun, with temperatures at times surpassing 30 degrees Celsius.

The market also saw many children around.

A boy there, 11 years' old, told China Media Group (CMG) reporter he now lives with his father. Due to limited access to public schools and the tuition fees at private schools, he didn't go to school, saying his family couldn't afford it.

What's worse, escalating conflicts in the first months of 2024 left over 1,000 schools closed and hundreds of thousands of children out of classes, according to a UNICEF report released in late March.

As one of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti's long-term political turmoil and frequent natural disasters have severely restricted its economic and social development.

According to the UNICEF report, an estimated 5.5 million Haitians, nearly half of the population, will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2024.

A growing number of Haitians are crossing the border into the neighboring Dominican Republic amid the ongoingcrisis in their home country.

Shotlist:
Pedernales, Dominican Republic - April 8, 2024:
1. Various of Haitians at market, stands for selling vegetables, foods;
2. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Haitian resident (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 3/ending with shot 4):
"I'm here to make a living. I sell chili peppers, celery, onions, eggplants, large peppers, small peppers, leeks and cabbage. I restock vegetables from the Dominican Republic.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
3. Haitian residents at market;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
4. Woman paying for goods;
5. People at market;
6. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Haitian resident (name not given) (ending with shot 7):
"I have to feed my children. I have five [children].";
7. Stands, people at market;
8. Various of children, traffic around market;
9. SOUNDBITE (Creole) Kinlor (transliteration) Haitian resident (with reporter asking questions):
"I'm 11 years old."
(Reporter: "Where's your mother?")
"Isami (transliteration)."
(Reporter: "And your father?")
"My father is here."
(Reporter: "Do you go to school?")
"No. We don't have money."
10. Various of people at market.

[RESTRICTIONS: No access Chinese mainland]