Haitian migrant boat explodes en route to Turks and Caicos, 40 dead
7:42 AM EDT, July 20, 2024
At least 40 migrants from Haiti were killed when the boat they were heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands on exploded, Reuters reported. There were about 80 people on board. It is not known how the explosion occurred.
The Haitian Coast Guard took immediate action, rescuing 41 migrants from the sinking boat. According to "The New York Times," 11 of them were taken to the hospital due to injuries. Information provided by Reuters suggests that at least 40 people died.
The migrants' route from Haiti to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, is over 124 miles.
They were fleeing a country in chaos and lawlessness
Gregoire Goodstein, a representative of the International Organization for Migration, emphasized that the socio-economic situation in Haiti is catastrophic. "Extreme violence" that has occurred in recent months has forced Haitians to take "desperate measures" in search of safety.
The portal reminds that a first group of law enforcement officers from Kenya recently arrived in Haiti. Their task is to take control of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, which is currently in the hands of dozens of armed groups. These groups attack police stations, free prisoners, and kill with impunity. A total of 2,500 members of international forces are planned to be sent to Haiti to help restore order and stability.
