Gang releases some women and children from group of 50 kidnapped in Haiti

Nearly a week after a deadly attack on a community near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a gang released six children and seven women who were kidnapped, according to UNICEF. The United Nations children's agency announced late Friday that among those released were three infants, a seven-year-old, and two teenage girls. Yannig Dussart, UNICEF's deputy representative in Haiti, expressed hope in a statement, noting that the Kenscoff abduction was not an isolated incident but a stark reminder of the frequent attacks on children across the country.

UNICEF collaborated with community leaders to facilitate the release of the women and children. It remains unclear whether they required medical attention, and whether more individuals are still held captive. While petty kidnappings in Haiti are common, mass abductions are relatively rare, with outcomes varying from ransom release to killings despite multiple ransoms paid.

The attack on Kenscoff, a once-peaceful farming community, resulted in the death of at least 47 people, as gangs threatened to execute all hostages if police killed any gang members. Izo 2, a gang leader coordinating with others, demanded the hostages' execution unless the police killed their members. The recent attack prompted an urgent meeting of the U.N.

Security Council, attended by diplomats from the United States, Panama, and Colombia, who called for a rapid deployment of the new U.N.-backed gang-fighting force and action to curb the lawless bands. Diplomats expressed horror at the brutal attack, with the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, Luis Ruiz Massieu, welcoming the decision by Haitian authorities to coordinate the national police, armed forces, and the gang suppression force to evaluate developments and coordinate plans.

The gang suppression force would strengthen its presence in Port-au-Prince, while Haitian forces would bolster their deployment in Kenscoff. However, the U.N. envoy and many council speakers emphasized the urgent need to bolster international security support for Haiti, with U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta urging U.N. members to provide resources to enable the gang suppression force to deploy swiftly and invest in jobs, infrastructure, and opportunities to offer an alternative to gang recruitment.