MIAMI, (CMC):

The United States Coast Guard has sent more than 100 Haitians back to their homeland after spotting an overloaded ship southwest of Great Inagua, The Bahamas, over the weekend.

It said that the crew had boarded the ship and distributed life jackets to the migrants and also "food, water, shelter and any necessary medical attention".

The coast guard said the 107 Haitians were sent back to Cap-Haitien in the north of the country.

It said that 1,313 Haitians had been sent back since October 1 last year.