At least 40 migrants lost their lives in a tragic incident off the coast of Haiti when a boat caught fire. According to police, the fire was started by a passenger performing a voodoo ritual with candles gone awry.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that they rescued 41 survivors, with 11 of them being hospitalized for serious burns. The survivors revealed to local media that the voodoo ritual was performed to bring luck and prevent the boat from being stopped by coast guards.The boat, carrying over 80 people, set sail from Labadee port on Wednesday, aiming to reach the Turks and Caicos Islands 240 kilometers away.
The mission chief of IOM in Haiti emphasized the dangers faced by migrants taking irregular routes to flee violence inflicted by criminal gangs in the country. In response to the escalating unrest, Kenya has deployed hundreds of police officers to help restore stability in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.
Prime Minister Gary Conille welcomed the international effort and pledged to launch a police operation against the criminal groups controlling most of the city.
As the migration crisis worsens, countries like the US, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Jamaica have increased efforts to intercept boats leaving Haiti.
Over 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries this year, as per IOM reports. With around 600,000 internally displaced people in Haiti since March, the situation continues to worsen.
Gönder