( CNN ) -- The Dominican Republic was the first country to give aid to Haiti in the aftermath of Tuesday 's devastating earthquake . Some of the first video images of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince came from a Dominican television crew . On the face of it , the quick reaction from Haiti 's neighbor may not seem surprising given their proximity . But historically , a much wider gap in relations has existed between Haiti and the Dominican Republic since colonial times . The Dominican Republic 's outpouring of support to Haiti is a reminder of how the less-than-friendly legacy between the two nations has been buried even deeper . Some tensions still exist between citizens of both countries . Dominicans recall how they were under Haitian rule for a period in the mid-1800s , and how they repeatedly fought Haitian aggressions . Today , Haitians provide cheap labor in the Dominican Republic , a trend that has caused resentment on both sides , not unlike the illegal immigration debate in the United States . But as far as the countries themselves are officially concerned , `` relations are at a high point compared to 20 or 30 years ago , '' Ernesto Sagas , associate professor of ethnic studies at Colorado State University , told CNN . `` Relations between the countries at the presidential level are at high levels . '' Dominican Public Works Minister Victor Diaz Rua surveyed the damage in Port-au-Prince Wednesday as his country planned the necessary logistics to provide international aid . Are you there ? Submit an iReport . `` The center of the city , where the presidential palace collapsed , is practically completely destroyed , '' Diaz Rua told CNN en Español , noting he saw hotels , schools and hospitals that were damaged . Impact Your World : How you can help . Diaz Rua also saw few emergency teams working . `` We 're going to send teams from the Dominican Republic to help with the rescue . We 're going to send food , water and mobile clinics , '' he said . Such cooperation was not historically the case . Haiti , a former French colony , and the Dominican Republic , with roots as a Spanish colony , have tensions that go back to those days , Sagas said . The Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti in 1844 , after Haiti had occupied it . The Dominicans spent the next 20 years fighting off Haitian invasion attempts . By the early 20th century , Haitians had become a source of cheap labor in the neighboring country . Racism and security concerns resulted in a massacre in 1937 . Dominican leader Rafael Trujillo ordered the execution of Haitians living near the border between the countries , resulting in the killings of 20,000 to 30,000 Haitians , historians say . The current tragedy appears to push those tensions further into the past . `` This is the worst disaster in Haiti 's recorded history , '' Sagas said . `` The best role the DR can play is to open its border for other nations to funnel all the aid to Haiti . '' The Dominican Republic appears to be following that path . The government on Wednesday started sending food , medicine and rescue crews to Haiti , the El Nacional newspaper reported . Top Dominican leaders amassed at the border as a staging ground to begin transporting aid into the country . Are you looking for loved ones ? Among the aid are 10 mobile cafeterias that can produce 100,000 meals a day , and heavy equipment to remove debris , Diaz Rua said .
Dominican Republic first nation to give aid to Haiti post - quake . Historically , wide differences in aid between neighbors . DR 's recent statistics shows Haiti growing stronger . DR providing food , medicine and rescue crews to Haiti .