Posted: Saturday, July 20, 2024. 10:43 am CST.
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Tragedy struck off the northern coast of Haiti as at least 40 migrants lost their lives when a boat they were on caught fire, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.
The IOM confirmed that the Haitian Coast Guard managed to rescue 41 survivors, with 11 individuals hospitalized, some for severe burns.
According to authorities, the fire erupted due to a passenger lighting a candle during a voodoo ritual.
Survivors recounted that the ritual was intended to bring luck and evade coast guard detection.
According to the Associated French Press, the boat carrying over 80 people, departed from Labadee on Wednesday bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, a journey spanning 150 miles (240 kilometers).
“This devastating event highlights the risks faced by children, women and men migrating through irregular routes,” said Gregoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief of mission in the country.
Haiti has witnessed a surge in migration amid escalating violence by criminal gangs, which have seized control of large swaths of territory, including recent attacks on prisons, police stations, and even the main airport.
To address the crisis, international efforts have intensified, including the deployment of Kenyan police officers in Port-au-Prince and promises from newly appointed Prime Minister Gary Conille to combat gang activities.
As migration numbers escalate, Haitian Coast Guard units have noted a rise in boat departures from the north, with neighboring countries such as the United States, the Bahamas, and Jamaica reporting increased interceptions of Haitian-origin vessels.
This year alone, over 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti, underscoring the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge faced by the region.
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The post International News: 40 Haitian migrants die after voodoo ritual sets boat ablaze appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Saturday, July 20, 2024. 10:43 am CST. By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Tragedy struck off the northern coast of Haiti as at least 40 migrants lost
The post International News: 40 Haitian migrants die after voodoo ritual sets boat ablaze appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
