Several UN agencies released a joint statement Tuesday condemning the death of a Venezuelan baby during a maritime interception by the Trinidad and Tobago coast guard. The intercepted vessel was fired upon while carrying Venezuelan refugees, which has become common in the Caribbean due to domestic turmoil in Venezuela.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) all so-signed the statement, saying that they were “deeply saddened” by the tragedy. The agencies also called for renewed support and protections for refugee women and children.

Numerous international laws and treaties govern refugee and migration law, but of particular importance is Article 2 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which requires signatory states to safeguard the rights of all children irrespective of their nationality or status.

According to a Trinidadian and Tobagoan Coast Guard statement, both the baby and mother suffered injuries during the interception of their vessel, though only the mother survived. The coast guard was unaware that there were refugees on board the vessel until after its engines had been fired upon, which was deemed necessary due to the vessel’s aggressive action and unwillingness to stop after being hailed.

It is estimated that there are more than 6 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide. The UN recognized the scale of the growing refugee crisis in 2021 when it appealed for $1.79 billion in funding for Venezuelan refugee support, calling it “one of the largest displacement crises in the world.”