UN appalled by the death of Venezuelan child off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago

The UN and four of its main agencies expressed concern on Monday over the murder of a Venezuelan boy who was migrating to Trinidad and Tobago with his mother and died after their boat was shot at by the island’s Coast Guard.

In a joint statement, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) regretted the terrible incident.

"We are deeply shocked by this tragedy and convey our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones who mourn this loss and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. No one in search of safety, protection, and new opportunities should lose their life," said Eduardo Stein, UNHCR and IOM's joint special representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Stein said that the incident shows the "plight faced by people on the move during desperate and dangerous journeys seeking safety."

Unicef's director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jean Gough, said that "no migrant child should ever die, whether traveling with his or her parents or alone. No mother wants to risk the lives of her children in a small boat on the high seas unless she has no other choice."

In order to avoid such tragedies, there is a need for safer routes for refugees and migrants, Stein added.

"States must take measures to ensure that the right to life of refugees and migrants is always respected. We call on the authorities to investigate this incident," said Alberto Brunori, UNHCR's regional representative for Central America and the English-speaking Caribbean.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó also demanded justice for the Venezuelan child. "The death of a Venezuelan child, who together with his mother were fleeing the dictatorship, hurts us in our soul as a country. The shots fired by the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard have no justification, they killed him (...) we demand justice."

Guaidó stated that the Venezuelan regime has "caused the exodus of more than 6 million Venezuelans", and that "many end up taking dangerous routes".

"We claim the right of our people to receive protection and seek refuge, as they are fleeing a complex humanitarian emergency and human rights violations," he added.