17 Kidnapped in Haiti

According to the Christian Aid Ministries Organization, seventeen missionaries from the United States and Canada, some of whom are minors, were kidnapped this Saturday. Haiti security forces have informed officials that the investigation is ongoing, and so far officers have discovered that local gang members are responsible for the havoc. The missing missionaries were traveling to Titanyen after visiting an orphanage in Croix des Bouquets, but were abducted between the two locations. If one of the abducted missionaries had not posted a call for help in a WhatsApp group as the kidnapping occurred, it may have been impossible for authorities to have learned about the incident, for many disappearances are never reported.

Kidnappings have significantly increased in Haiti throughout 2021, with numbers rising nearly 300%. Approximately 628 kidnappings have taken place since January, causing extreme panic and fear. Due to a lack of action by the Haitian government, foreign forces have become greatly involved, with the FBI, State Department, and even Canadian executives coming together to conduct specialized investigations. 

Recent rebellions and uprising have caused great disturbance in the political atmosphere of Haiti. Thousands of individuals have been killed by government forces, and hundreds more injured, creating distrust between the general population and their leaders. Therefore, it’s extremely difficult for police and military forces to interrogate citizens, in hopes of discovering any valuable information. Although limited in their knowledge, the United States and Canada have made it their responsibility to “put an end to the kidnappings” and “rescue those who are missing.”