iciHaiti - Drama : More than 321 migrants disappeared at sea in 2022

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented 321 migrant disappearances at sea in the Caribbean in 2022, the highest number recorded since 2014 and a dramatic increase from the 180 deaths at sea recorded in 2021.

Of the 321 missing 66 were women, 64 men and 28 boys, girls and teenagers "More than 51% (163) people who died on the migration routes in the Caribbean last year could not be identified" said Patrice Quesada, IOM Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean. "This means that hundreds of families have no news about the fate of their loved ones."

Of the 180 identified migrants who died or went missing at sea in 2022, 80 (44%) came from Haiti.

The main cause of death is drowning, mainly due to bad weather conditions which make navigation difficult, and the use of makeshift boats in poor condition or not designed to cross the high seas.

A significant number of the recorded cases have occurred on the routes that lead to the United States, from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico and from Haiti to several Caribbean islands.

S/ iciHaiti