Haiti gang frees 13 women and children days after raid that killed at least 47 people
A gang in Haiti has freed thirteen hostages, including women and children, following a brutal assault. UNICEF played a crucial role in securing their release from a farming community. This incident in Kenscoff underscores the rampant violence impacting children across Haiti. The region has faced numerous fatalities and displacement due to gang activities, although mass abductions are less…
A violent gang in Haiti has released 13 hostages, comprising seven women and six children, after kidnapping 50 individuals nearly a week ago in a farming community near the capital, Port-au-Prince. Unicef, the United Nations' children's agency that assisted in their release, announced the freed individuals included three children under two years old, a seven-year-old child, and two teenage girls.
Unicef collaborated with leaders of Kenscoff, the targeted farming settlement, to secure the release of the women and children. The incident, which occurred on August 23, left at least 47 people dead. Gang leader Izo 2 had threatened to execute all hostages if police harmed any of their members. The Kenscoff attack was not isolated but highlighted the scale and frequency of attacks on children throughout Haiti.
The UN estimates that attacks in the area in early 2025 resulted in over 260 deaths, destruction of 200 homes, and forced displacement of 3,000 people. The neighborhood, overlooking routes to Petion-Ville and a major road connecting the capital with southern Haiti, has experienced multiple attacks involving rape, kidnapping, arson, and livestock theft.
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