In 2023, the Haitian population was trying to survive, but many already felt disoriented, tired and discouraged due to the deteriorating security situation, rising inflation and deepening political contradictions.
Living amid organized crime, sexual violence, unemployment and other difficulties is no longer an option, and they are turning their sights to destinations such as Mexico, Canada and the United States, the latter with more than 100,000 residents having already arrived. Haitians last year.
The visa programs of Canada and the United States are not sufficient, which is why about 33,000 Haitians crossed the Darien jungle this year with the aim of reaching the latter country.
“Many young people would like to stay, but the lack of viable options leaves them no other choice. Young people are neglected and there is no development policy that encourages them to stay,” emphasized Sam Guillaume from the support group for returnees and refugees to the newspaper Le National.
According to the organization, from January to November 2023, the return of 492,140 Haitian migrants from the Dominican Republic was recorded. These include 224,614 returnees, 216,030 spontaneous returns and 51,496 returnees.
According to its own information, the National Migration Office (ONM) has now taken in a total of 318,086 migrants from the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Two thousand 490 citizens were intercepted at sea, 135 were deported and four thousand and nine were repatriated to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. They came from Cuba, Mexico, the United States, Jamaica and Turkey, the ONM said.
rgh/joe