UN and Refugee organisations condemn killing of nine-month-old Venezuelan baby

Trinidad and Tobago: On Monday, the United Nations Human Rights and refugee organisations shared a joint statement and condemned the act by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. A nine-month-old Venezuelan baby was killed in his mother’s arm in the tragic incident.

The human rights organisations – UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the Office of United Nations High Commission of Human Rights (OHCHR) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), shared a joint statement and said that they “are deeply saddened” after knowing about the tragic incident.

The joint special representative of IOM & UNHCR for the refugees and migrants of Venezuelan, Dr Eduardo Stein, said, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and convey our heartfelt condolences to family and loved ones who are mourning loss and a speedy recovery to wounded.”

He further mentioned, “Nobody should have to lose their lives in their search for safety, protection and new opportunities. This incident highlights difficulties faced by people on the move during desperate and dangerous journeys to safety.”

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also took a moment to express grief. He said, “I expressed my deepest sympathy on my own behalf and of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago concerning the unfortunate loss of life of the baby during the security operations.”

PM added, “We continue to appeal to our Venezuelan neighbours not to be encouraged to risk their lives and the life of others in illicit and dangerous border crossings”.

In defence, the Coast Guard shared a statement and said that the ‘TTS Scarborough’ on patrolling, at that time, they found a boat near the border of Venezuela. The coast guard officials mentioned that the migrant boat tried to evade the TTS Scarborough, and as a self-defence standard, they fired the boat.