Gang violence in Haiti has led to the internal displacement of over half a million people, and the situation was further exacerbated when a boat carrying more than 80 Haitians caught fire off the coast of Cap-Haitien. At least 40 people were killed and 41 were rescued by the Haitian coastguard, with 11 sustaining injuries. The incident was caused by candles being lit on the boat for safe passage, resulting in gasoline-filled drums exploding.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) emphasized the urgent need for safe and legal pathways for migration to prevent such tragedies. The violence in Haiti has forced tens of thousands to flee, with gangs taking control of key areas in the capital, Port-au-Prince. More than 570,000 Haitians have been internally displaced as a result, highlighting the dire need for assistance.
To address the violence, several hundred Kenyan police officers have been deployed to Haiti as part of a UN-mandated mission to combat gangs. Despite the ongoing crisis, neighboring countries have forcibly returned over 86,000 migrants and refugees to Haiti this year, with a significant increase in March alone.
The coastguard has reported a rise in the number of attempted boat departures from Haiti, leading to interceptions by neighboring countries in the region. The situation in Haiti remains precarious, with the need for international support and solutions to address the ongoing violence and displacement.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com