Eight people, including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, have been released after being kidnapped from an orphanage in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
The group was taken captive on August 3, and their release was announced on Friday, nearly a month after the kidnapping.
The orphanage, run by the international charity Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs, cares for more than 240 children and is located in the southeast of Port-au-Prince, an area controlled by the Viv Ansanm gang federation.
“We warmly welcome the news that Gena and all of the Haitian nationals taken captive on [August 3], including a small child, have been released and are reported to be safe and well,” Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said in a statement.
The Irish missionary, Gena Heraty, is the director of a special needs program for children and adults at the Saint-Helene orphanage. Heraty’s family said they were “relieved beyond words” upon hearing of her release.
Kidnappings and ransoms have become increasingly common in Haiti, where gang violence has surged amid overlapping political, humanitarian, and security crises.
The targeted orphanage is located in an area where the United Nations estimates gangs control nearly 90% of the territory.
The release of the kidnapping victims comes as the UN Security Council is discussing a proposal to bolster a floundering international police force deployed to Haiti to counter the rising violence.
The proposal, put forth by the US and Panama, seeks to transition the mission into a so-called “Gang Suppression Force” with up to 5,500 personnel.
The draft proposal also lays out a plan to provide “full logistical support” for rations, fuel, medical services, ground transportation, and surveillance from drones.
However, the draft did not directly address the current mission’s lagging support, and the UN effort to bring stability to Haiti is currently less than 10% funded.
UN missions remain controversial in Haiti, with past deployments resulting in a sexual abuse scandal and cholera epidemic that killed more than 9,000 people.
Still, the country’s leaders have requested external help as violence and displacement have surged. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year.
The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also reported that a “staggering” 50% of gang members and participants in the country are children.
The release of the kidnapping victims is a welcome development, but the situation in Haiti remains dire.
The country’s gangs have been increasingly targeting civilians, and the UN has warned that the situation is spiraling out of control.
The international community must continue to provide support and assistance to Haiti to help address the underlying causes of the violence and instability.
In a statement, Heraty’s family said they continue to hold Haiti in their hearts and hope for peace and safety for all those affected by the ongoing armed violence and insecurity.
The release of the kidnapping victims is a testament to the efforts of the international community to bring stability and security to Haiti, and it is hoped that this will be a step towards a more peaceful and secure future for the country.
Hi my loved one I wish to say that this post is amazing nice written and include approximately all vital infos Id like to peer more posts like this
Very many thanks. We are glad we served you well.