Over 40 Haitians have died at sea and many more injured after their boat caught fire while trying to reach the Turks and Caicos islands. The boat, which was carrying over 80 people, departed from Fort Saint-Michel in northern Haiti and caught fire off the coast of Cap-Haitien. The tragic incident highlights the risks faced by migrants taking irregular routes, emphasizing the need for safe and legal pathways for migration.
Haiti has been plagued by violence, with armed gangs fighting for control of territory, leading to over 570,000 internally displaced Haitians and forcing people to resort to desperate measures. In response, hundreds of Kenyan police officers have been deployed to help local police fight against the gangs. Additionally, more than 86,000 migrants and refugees have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries this year, despite a surge in violence and the closure of airports.
Since February, there has been an increase in the number of attempts and departures by boat from Haiti, with coastguards from various countries intercepting boats at sea. The United Nations Migration Agency has called for safe and legal pathways for migration in light of these incidents. The situation in Haiti is dire, with extreme violence leading to mass displacement and dangerous journeys for those seeking a better life.
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