UN Confirms At Least 40 Deaths After Boat Catches Fire In Haiti

The United Nations Friday confirmed that at least 40 migrants died when a boat they were travelling in caught fire off Cap Haitien.

Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, told the daily briefing that two days ago, the boat, carrying over 80 people, departed from Labadee en route to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a 250-kilometer journey.

"We have sad news from the north of Haiti. Colleagues from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) say that at least 40 migrants have died, and several others were injured, after a boat they were travelling in caught fire off Cap Haitien," Haq said.

"Forty-one surviving migrants who were aboard were rescued by the Haitian Coast Guard and are currently receiving medical care, food, water, and psychosocial support provided by IOM, in support of the national authorities. Eleven migrants were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment, including burns," he added.

The Head of IOM in Haiti, Grégoire Goodstein, said this devastating event demonstrates the crucial need for safe and legal pathways for migration.

IOM said that more than 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighbouring countries this year.

Meanwhile, Haq said UN teams are continuing to provide support to the authorities in their response to Hurricane Beryl in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica.

"In Grenada and St Vincent, our teams are taking part in rapid assessments. They're also helping to deliver humanitarian supplies, restore power and health care services, and supporting shelter management, among other activities."

Haq said that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York, Friday chaired a member state briefing on the impact and response to the hurricane.

"We heard from, among others, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph E. Gonsalves, as well as representatives of other affected governments, in addition to Simon Springett, the Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and Elizabeth Riley, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency," Haq said