At least 40 migrants have tragically lost their lives after the boat they were on caught fire off the northern coast of Haiti, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported. The vessel was en route from Cap-Haitien to the Turks and Caicos Islands when the incident occurred, resulting in the deaths of dozens of individuals seeking a better life away from poverty, lawlessness, and gang violence in Haiti.
According to the IOM, 41 survivors were rescued by the Haitian Coast Guard, with 11 of them being taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but a local official mentioned that the blaze may have been sparked by individuals lighting candles as part of a ritual for safe passage, inadvertently igniting gasoline-filled drums on board.
Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief of mission in Haiti, emphasized the dangers faced by migrants taking irregular routes and stressed the urgent need for safe and legal pathways for migration. He highlighted the dire socio-economic situation in Haiti, exacerbated by escalating violence and political instability, which is driving many to consider migration as their only means of survival.
The IOM also revealed that more than 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries this year, despite the worsening conditions in the country. Gang violence, which has claimed numerous lives and caused injuries at an alarming rate, continues to plague Haiti following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse three years ago.
In response to the escalating violence, hundreds of Kenyan police officers have been deployed to Haiti to assist local law enforcement in combating the criminal gangs terrorizing the nation. The situation in Haiti remains dire, with the need for international support and humanitarian aid more critical than ever to address the root causes of migration and provide assistance to those in need.
