By Adeyemi Adekunle
Not less than 40 Haitian migrants lost their lives when the boat they were traveling on caught fire and exploded at sea. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday, as the vessel, carrying over 80 people, departed from Fort Saint-Michel in northern Haiti, destined for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the incident in a statement released on Friday, citing information from Haiti’s migration authority.
The ill-fated journey began with hope but ended in disaster. Survivors recount that the fire started when passengers used matches to light candles as part of a ritual to ensure safe passage. The flames ignited gasoline-filled drums, causing a catastrophic explosion. Jean-Henry Petit, head of the civil protection office in northern Haiti, detailed the harrowing scene to the Miami Herald, describing the chaos and desperate attempts to escape the inferno.
The Haitian coast guard launched an immediate rescue operation, managing to save 41 individuals from the burning wreckage. These survivors are now receiving medical care and psychological support from the IOM. Eleven of the rescued were in critical condition and were swiftly transported to the nearest hospital for urgent treatment.
Gregoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief of mission in Haiti, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “This devastating event highlights the risks faced by children, women, and men migrating through irregular routes,” Goodstein said. He emphasized the dire situation in Haiti, where extreme gang-fueled violence has created an environment of fear and instability, forcing many to seek dangerous escape routes. “The extreme violence in Haiti over the past months has pushed Haitians to resort to desperate measures,” he added.
The broader context of this tragedy is a country in turmoil. Haiti has been grappling with rampant gang violence, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Armed gangs have taken control of vast areas, leading to a humanitarian crisis that has displaced nearly 600,000 people and left 5 million facing severe food insecurity. In a bid to restore order, several hundred Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti this month as part of a long-delayed international mission to assist Haitian authorities in combating the gangs.
The fire on the migrant boat is a stark reminder of the dangerous conditions that many Haitians face daily. It underscores the desperation driving people to risk their lives on perilous journeys in search of safety and stability. The incident also casts a spotlight on the urgent need for international support and intervention to address the root causes of Haiti’s crisis.
As Fort Saint-Michel mourns its lost sons and daughters, the global community is called to action. The tragedy serves as a grim testament to the lengths people will go to escape violence and poverty, and the lethal risks they endure along the way.
It is a clarion call for more comprehensive solutions to the humanitarian crises in Haiti and the protection of migrants worldwide.
