54 Haitian migrants located by Guatemala police in truck trailer

Guatemala Police authorities have located 54 Haitian migrants who were going to the United States via Mexico in a truck trailer. Out of these migrants, 14 are children.

Guatemala Police spokesperson – Jorge Aguilar, in his statement, noted that two Guatemalans suspected of driving the truck and were later detained by the officials. The Haitian migrants then immediately were provided assistance and transported to the border with Honduras, from where they had illegally entered Guatemala.

Several Haitians arrive in Central America after crossing the treacherous Darian Gap jungle between Colombia and Panama. So far, according to official Panamanian figures, more than 100,000 Haitian migrants have crossed the Darian Gap, which is approximately as many as during the past six years combined.

While, over 50 migrants have died trying to cross that jungle this year alone, according to the Panamanian authorities. The jungle route is full of peril, including wild animals, armed gangs and dangerous rivers, and still, people take risks without even thinking about their life.

The situation of the Caribbean island has forced the Haitians to take such risks and migrate to the United States or other nations, as they cannot afford to have visas.

Haiti is currently battling with poverty, hunger crisis, fuel shortage, political instability, gang violence, kidnappings, upsurge murder rate and COVID-19 outbreak. Haiti is the most impoverished nation of the Caribbean region, which was recently hit by a 7.2 magnitude of earthquake in the month of August, which destroyed more than 53,000 buildings, including homes, schools, churches and other infrastructure, while killing more than 2,200 people.

Many nations and international organisations have provided assistance to the Caribbean country. Fuel shortage in Haiti has put the lives of hundreds of women, children and COVID-19 patients in danger. A few days back, United Nations sent 6,000 gallons of fuel to the Caribbean island.