Two missionaries abducted in Haiti are freed; 15 hostages still held

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —  Two of 17 members of a missionary group who were kidnapped more than a month ago in Haiti have been freed and are safe, “in good spirits and being cared for,” their Ohio-based church organization announced Sunday.

Christian Aid Ministries issued a statement saying it could not give the names of those released, why they were freed or other information.

“While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the 15 people who are still being held,” the group said.

The spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, Gary Desrosiers, confirmed to the Associated Press that two hostages were released Sunday.

The missionaries were kidnapped Oct. 16 by the 400 Mawozo gang. There are five children, including an 8-month-old, in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian. Their Haitian driver also was abducted, according to a local human rights organization.

The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his 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.

The FBI, which is helping Haitian authorities recover the captives, declined to comment.

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

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

Haiti 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.