Puerto Plata is located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, which together with Haiti, forms the island of Hispaniola. Driven by poverty, lack of opportunity and political instability in Haiti, the Dominican Republic has become a destination for many Haitian migrants seeking a better life. Puerto Plata has a significant Haitian migrant and refugee population. Haitian migrants primarily live in Bateys, which are informal settlements characterized by poverty and lack of resources.