SANTIAGO. -- The trafficking of Haitian children to Dominican Republic, especially to Santiago (north) has jumped in the last weeks and concerns the authorities and other sectors who want to put a stop to the practice.

In that regard Santiago Children’s Court prosecutor Beato Antia said she’s concerned with the number of Haitian minors who wander the city’s streets, after being smuggled from Haiti. She said Dominican agencies must take joint measures to deal with the problem.

Santiago community leaders say many of the minors, between the ages of 5 and 16, get into brawls and destroy car windshields and damage businesses and residences. Neighbors in several central areas said they’re tired of asking the Immigration Agency to gather and repatriate those adolescents, many of whom beg, though others commit criminal activities.

According to Haitian and Dominican organizations many of the minors are orphans and others have been in Haiti jails, but had been released after pressure from their country’s human rights entities.

Contrary to what occurs in Dominican Republic, where special courts process minors who break the law, in Haiti these are held in jails together with adult inmates and according to human rights groups many are abused while others are beaten by that country’s Police.

Some of the minors, which the Police says are brought by gangs of Dominicans and Haitians which operate across the border, have been arrested for different crimes in Santiago, but have been set free.