Two hostages, members of a group of 17 missionaries and their relatives from the United States and Canada, who were abducted in October near the Haitian capital , Port-au-Prince, have been released, the American Church organization to which they belong announced on Sunday.
“We can only provide limited information, but we are able to announce that the two hostages who were released are safe and sound, have good morals and are being cared for,” Christian Aid Ministries said in a press release posted on its website. .
The group, consisting of 16 U.S. nationals and one Canadian, including five children, was abducted on October 16 after visiting an orphanage in the heart of an area controlled by one of Haiti’s most powerful gangs.
The Christian Aid Ministries, an Ohio-based religious organization, said the group consisted of 12 adults between the ages of 18 and 48 and five children aged 8 months, 3, 6, 13 and 15 years.
“We can not make public, nor confirm, the names of those released, the conditions of their release, their origin or where they are at the moment,” the ecclesiastical organization said, calling on those aware of the these details.
“Proof of life”
Members of the “400 mawozo” gang that took the 17 hostages demanded a million dollars ransom for each of them, according to information from the French Agency.
In a video uploaded to social media sites in late October, the gang leader threatened to execute the hostages.
A few days later, the Haitian police announced that “they have received evidence that all the hostages are alive . “
Several agents of the FBI, the US federal police, have been cooperating with the Haitian authorities and the police squad to deal with the kidnappers who have been negotiating with the kidnappers for over a month.
The US government places Haiti on the list of countries where it instructs its citizens not to travel, mainly due to the escalation of kidnappings, with “often” American victims.
Last week, the United States and Canada advised their citizens living in Haiti to plan their departure from the Caribbean country, where gangs are expanding their control and have recently caused a huge shortage of fuel.
Heavily armed gangs have committed more than 800 kidnappings for ransom in Haiti since the beginning of the year, according to the Center for Human Rights Analysis and Studies (CARDH).
In April, ten people, including two French nationals – a French priest and a French nun – were abducted for 20 days by the 400 Mawozo gang in the same area, between the capital Port-au-Prince and the Dominican border. Democracy.
