Violent Haitian gang releases women and children after mass kidnapping and deadly attack

A gang in Haiti released six children and seven women following a violent attack that saw more than 50 people kidnapped, according to UNICEF. The United Nations children’s agency announced the release late Friday, highlighting the rare moment of hope amid the ongoing violence affecting children in Haiti. Yannig Dussart, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Haiti, expressed optimism about the release, calling it a stark reminder of the scale and frequency of attacks on children across the country.

UNICEF collaborated with community leaders to secure the release of the women and children. The circumstances of their medical needs remain unclear, as well as whether more women and children are still being held captive. While individual kidnappings are common in Haiti, mass abductions are relatively uncommon, with outcomes ranging from release without ransom to execution despite multiple ransoms paid.

The attack on Kenscoff, a once-peaceful farming community near Port-au-Prince, resulted in the deaths of at least 47 people. Gang leader Izo 2, who leads an armed group in the area on behalf of and in coordination with other gang leaders, including Izo, threatened to execute all hostages if police killed any of his members during the operation to secure Kenscoff.