Christian Aid Ministries: Two of the 17 Haiti kidnapping victims now free

Two of the 17 people being held hostage in Haiti have been released, according to a statement posted Sunday on the Christian Aid Ministries website.

"Only limited information can be provided, but we are able to report that the two hostages who were released are safe, in good spirits, and being cared for," the post, which was time-stamped 12:15 p.m., reads.

"We cannot provide or confirm the names of those released, the reasons for their release, where they are from, or their current location," the statement continues. "We ask that those who have more specific information about the release and the individuals involved would safeguard that information."

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The organization, based in Holmes County's Berlin, continues to ask people to pray for the release of the remaining missionaries and family members who were kidnapped Oct. 16 by the 400 Mawozo gang.

The captive group was abducted after visiting an orphanage east of the capital. The victims include seven women, five men and five children, all U.S. citizens and one Canadian. It was not clear in the CAM statement if the two hostages who are reported to have been released are children.

"While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the fifteen people who are still being held," the statement reads.

The leader of 400 Mawozo gang had threatened to kill the hostages unless the gang’s demands are met. Authorities have said the gang was demanding $1 million per person, although it wasn’t immediately clear if that included the children in the group.

When reached by email Sunday, CAM spokesperson Weston Showalter declined to answer questions beyond what is posted on the ministries' website.

Continuing struggles in Haiti

The release comes as Haiti struggles with a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings, with the U.S. government recently urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti amid deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel blamed on gangs blocking gas distribution terminals. On Friday, Canada announced it was pulling all but essential personnel from its embassy.

The fuel shortage has forced hospitals to turn away patients and paralyzed public transportation, with some schools closing and businesses shortening their work hours.

Haiti also is trying to recover from the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck in mid-August, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, often unable to recover from hurricanes and earthquakes with fragile or nonexistent water, electrical and other infrastructure. Constant political turmoil has been fueled by international exploitation and historical meddling by other nations, all the way back to the country's origin as a slave colony that revolted.

Though the organization paused its work in 2019 and 2020 amid growing safety concerns, Christian Aid Ministries has been especially active in Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake killed more than 200,000 people in 2010, leaving many children orphaned.

The organization has not agreed to interviews and has not answered questions from the media throughout the ongoing hostage crisis. Instead, the religious group posts almost daily updates praising the amount of prayers they've received during the crisis.

Reporter Doug Livingston of the Akron Beacon Journal and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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