A criminal group in Haiti has kidnapped 17 American and Canadian missionaries, which had included five children. Christian Aid Ministries confirmed Sunday that the missionaries they sent to the country were abducted and being held for ransom.
The Ohio-based organization said that 16 of the 17 that were kidnapped are U.S. citizens, while one was a Canadian citizen. The group had included five men, seven women, and five children.
The Haitian government said it is had already launched an investigation into the matter and they are trying to track down the whereabouts of the group and the missionaries. Officials said the kidnappers are likely a local gang.
The U.S. State Department said it is already working with the organization and the Haitian government to resolve the matter. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has also reportedly joined in the efforts to secure the release of the missionaries.
Christian Aid Ministries said the group was traveling from Croix des Bouquets to Titanyen after having visited an orphanage. They were then ambushed and abducted along the route between the two areas.
Haitian police have named the gang they believe is responsible for kidnapping 17 people affiliated with a U.S.-based missionary group, including a 2-year-old. The 400 Mawozo gang abducted the group Saturday in a commune east of Port-au-Prince, police say.https://t.co/rj2Iu96PIq — The Associated Press (@AP) October 17, 2021
The organization's field director in Haiti, Dan Hooley, said the kidnappers have already made contact with them. Hooley said some of the people in the group were able to contact him before they were abducted to inform him of what was going on. One of those that were abducted was also able to post a message on WhatsApp.
"Please pray for us!! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver. Pray pray pray. We don't know where they are taking us," the message on WhatsApp said.
The kidnapping of foreigners, aid workers, doctors, lawyers, and other high-profile individuals has become common in Haiti. Throughout the year, the number of kidnappings in the country has surged when compared to last year.
A report from the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights cited at least 628 kidnappings since January - a big jump from the 234 kidnappings reported for the entire year of 2020.
Since the murder of President Jovenel Mose back in July and the deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake in August, the situation in Haiti has deteriorated dramatically. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said the deteriorating socio-economic situation and political turmoil in the country have resulted in the surge of gang violence and criminal activities. The agency said this has resulted in a serious humanitarian crisis in the country.
