Contact Members/Sign Up Reg Form

40 Haitian Migrants Die After Voodoo Ritual Sets Boat on Fire

Photo: Image is only for representation purpose

At least 40 migrants have died after a boat they were traveling in caught fire off the northern coast of Haiti, a UN agency reported on Friday. According to police, the explosion was sparked by a voodoo ritual gone wrong.

The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that the Haitian Coast Guard rescued 41 survivors, 11 of whom were hospitalized, some for burns. The fire started when a passenger lit a candle to begin a voodoo ritual, said police spokesperson Arold Jean.

Survivors informed local media that the voodoo ceremony was intended to bring luck and help the boat avoid interception by the coast guard.

"This devastating event highlights the risks faced by children, women, and men migrating through irregular routes," said Gregoire Goodstein, IOM's chief of mission in the country.

The boat, carrying more than 80 people, had departed from the port of Labadee on Wednesday en route to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a 150-mile (240-kilometer) journey, according to the IOM, citing Haiti's National Office for Migration.

"The search continues with the aim of finding other survivors," said Jean, adding that an investigation had been opened to "identify and dismantle the networks that organize these clandestine voyages."

Migration from Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has surged in recent months as thousands flee escalating violence from criminal gangs that control vast territories. The gangs have attacked prisons, destroyed police stations, and invaded the main airport, weakening the government's hold on the country.

"Haiti's socioeconomic situation is in agony," Goodstein said. "The extreme violence over the past months has only driven Haitians to more desperate measures."

Hundreds of police officers from Kenya have been deployed in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, as part of an international effort to bring stability to a country plagued by political, social, and economic chaos. Newly named Prime Minister Gary Conille, a former UN official, has welcomed the Kenyan contingent and vowed to launch a police operation against the gangs.

Criminal groups control 80 percent of the capital city, with residents facing threats of murder, rape, and kidnapping for ransom.

As emigration increases, Haitian Coast Guard units in the north have observed a rising number of boat departures, according to the IOM. Countries including the United States, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Jamaica report intercepting a growing number of boats originating from Haiti.

More than 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries this year, the IOM reported. The country currently has nearly 600,000 internally displaced people, a 60 percent increase since March, according to UN figures.

July 20, 2024 1:42 p.m. 497

#trending #latest #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn newschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai #HaitiCrisis #MigrantTragedy #VoodooRitual #MigrationRisks #HaitianMigrants #HumanitarianCrisis #IOM #ForcedMigration #CaribbeanMigration #HaitianCoastGuard #HaitiViolence #InternallyDisplaced #GlobalMigration #KenyanPolice #HaitiNews #RefugeeCrisis #PoliticalInstability #HumanRights #EmergencyResponse

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Makes Official Visit to AI Singapore

uae news / uae-national
Oct. 30, 2024 6:42 p.m. 370

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visited AI Singapore, a program dedicated to enhancing Singapore's artificial intellig...Read More.

Mediators Pursue Short-Term Truce in Gaza Lasting Under a Month

global news / world news
Oct. 30, 2024 6:35 p.m. 369

Discussions in Doha, which wrapped up on Monday, involved Mossad chief David Barnea, CIA director Bill Burns, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman...Read More.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Makes Official Visit to AI Singapore

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visited AI Singapore, a program dedicated to enhancing Singapore's artificial intellig

Mediators Pursue Short-Term Truce in Gaza Lasting Under a Month

Discussions in Doha, which wrapped up on Monday, involved Mossad chief David Barnea, CIA director Bill Burns, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman

Mohammed bin Rashid Initiates Education Continuity Programs in Lebanon

In alignment with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's campaign to support the Lebanese people, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has initiated ne

Torrential Rain in Valencia Triggers Floods, Resulting in 51 Fatalities

Since the start of the week, southern and eastern Spain have faced heavy rain and strong winds, leading to significant flooding in Valencia and the southern reg

Abu Dhabi's Culture and Tourism Department Launches Streamlined Event Licensing Guidelines

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has introduced its Event Licensing Manual, designed to standardize and streamline the event li

India-China Complete Disengagement; Sweets Exchange Scheduled Tomorrow

Sources indicated that patrolling will commence shortly, with ground commanders set to determine the specific modalities for operations.

Dubai Reef Hits Milestone: First 1,000 Purpose-Built Reef Modules

Dubai Reef, part of the Dubai Can initiative, is the world's largest sustainable purpose-built reef development.

Ukraine and Russia Discuss Ceasefire to End Airstrikes on Energy Facilities

At the beginning of the war, Ukraine lacked powerful long-range weapons; however, it has since developed advanced long-range attack drones

Israel Faces Soldier Shortages Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict After Year

Since the Israeli military began its ground offensive in Gaza on October 27 last year, it has suffered the loss of 367 soldiers

Khalifa bin Tahnoon Visits Traditional Handicrafts Festival to Support Culture

His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, visited the Traditional Handicrafts Festival to

LATEST INSTAGRAM POST
Follow Us

© DNN. All Rights Reserved.