UNHCR mourns the death of almost two dozen Haitians drowned near the Bahamas

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed dismay on Monday at the death of at least 17 Haitian migrants – including women and children – who drowned on Sunday off the coast of the Bahamas.

“The UN Refugee Agency expresses deep sadness at the death of at least 17 people who drowned after the boat they were traveling in capsized on Sunday morning off the coast of the Bahamas,” the agency reported in a statement. a statement.

Authorities said there were about 50 people on the twin-engine boat when it capsized.

Haiti has entered a period of great instability since the murder in 2021 of President Jovenel Moise. Press reports have indicated that in recent weeks the gangs are in control of several localities of the Caribbean island.

“Rescue at sea is a humanitarian imperative and an obligation under international law,” UNHCR said, citing the role played by the Bahamian authorities, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, in rescuing 25 people that day. .

Bahamian police forces reported that the boat capsized about 11 kilometers from the island of New Providence.

Immigration Minister Keith Bell reported that survivors said they had paid between $3,000 and $8,000 for the trip.

_{* Some of the information for this report came from Reuters.}

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