Port-au-Prince, 19 July – At least 40 migrants have died, and several others were injured after a boat they were travelling in caught fire off the coast of Cap Haitien, in the north of Haiti. On 17 July, according to the National Office for Migration (ONM), the boat, carrying over 80 people, departed from Fort Saint-Michel en route to the Turks and Caicos Islands, a 250-kilometer journey. 

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 the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in support of the ONM. Eleven migrants were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment, including burns. 

“This devastating event highlights the risks faced by children, women, and men migrating through irregular routes, demonstrating the crucial need for safe and legal pathways for migration.” said Grégoire Goodstein, IOM’s chief of mission in the country. “Haiti’s socio-economic situation is in agony. The extreme violence over the past months has only brought Haitians to resort to desperate measures even more.” 

The lack of economic opportunities, a collapsing health system, school closures, and the absence of prospects are pushing many to consider migration as the only way to survive. A 2023 IOM research found that 84 per cent of migrants returned had left to seek job opportunities abroad. For the vast majority of Haitians, regular migration is an extremely challenging journey to consider, let alone pursue, leaving many seeing irregular migration as their only option, a particularly life-threatening one in most instances. 

Since 29 February, Haitian Coast Guard in the north has observed an increase in the number of attempts and departures by boat. Coast Guards from countries in the region, including the United States, the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Jamaica, have also reported a growing number of boats originating from Haiti being intercepted at sea. 

More than 86,000 migrants have been forcibly returned to Haiti by neighboring countries this year. In March, despite a surge in violence and the closure of airports throughout the country, forced returns increased by 46 per cent, reaching 13,000 forced returns in March alone. 

IOM is concerned about the high number of forced returns of Haitians during this current period of civil unrest and uncertainty. Forced returns must occur in a dignified manner. Many migrants forcibly returned, including unaccompanied and separated children as well as pregnant and nursing women, arrive in Haiti in highly vulnerable conditions, often with few resources. They urgently need humanitarian assistance after facing numerous health and protection concerns during their journeys.

To meet these needs, working alongside the Haitian National Office for Migration, IOM provides tailor-made assistance upon arrival, including food and water during the registration process, unconditional and multi-purpose cash assistance, hygiene kits with dignity items for women and girls, and specific kits for babies. Additionally, first aid and medical referrals are available, along with psychosocial support and counseling from trained IOM psychologists. Family reunification for unaccompanied and separated children is also supported in coordination with local authorities. 

For more information, please contact:

Haiti: Antoine Lemonnier, +509 39 90 6920, alemonnier@iom.int 

Panama: Jorge Gallo, +507 69501270, jgallo@iom.int