40 Haitians migrants die in a boat fire while trying to escape hardship in Haiti

PHOTO: Haitian Boat People Intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard

The vessel was en route from Cap-Haitien to the Turks and Caicos Islands, more than 220km (137 miles) away. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, but a local official told Reuters that people on the boat were lighting candles in a ritual to ask for safe passage, causing gasoline-filled drums to ignite.

Root causes driving Haitians to risk their lives at sea include severe economic hardship, political instability, widespread violence, and lack of basic services. Many seek better opportunities and safety abroad due to high unemployment, poverty, and deteriorating living conditions in Haiti.

You can't blame them for trying to leave. Who doesn't want a better life?

Haitian leadership, those we call politicians, has been criticized for its inaction and inability to address the country's deep-rooted issues.

Rampant corruption, political infighting, and ineffective governance have prevented meaningful improvements, leaving many Haitians feeling abandoned and desperate to seek a better life elsewhere.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated that 41 other migtnants were rescued by the Haitian Coast Guard.

Read more: Haitian Boat People, Haiti News Updates

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