China News Service, October 18, reported that after the assassination of President Moise in July this year and the earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people in August, violence in Haiti has escalated.

On the 16th local time, 17 American and Canadian missionaries and their families were kidnapped by gang members in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

A gang known as "400 Mawozo" is believed to have carried out the kidnapping.

The U.S. State Department and relevant Canadian departments have expressed concern about the kidnapping. A source from the Haitian security department said that the investigation is ongoing.

On August 19, local time, in Camp-Perrin near the southern Haitian city of Lekay, people lined up to receive materials aided by the World Food Program.

Haitian gangs are on the rise

17 U.S. and Canadians kidnapped

　　On the 16th local time, 17 American and Canadian Christian missionaries and their families were kidnapped by gang members in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Many media reported that the kidnapping happened after the missionary left a local orphanage. The abductees included 5 minors.

　　Sources from the Haitian Security Service told AFP that some of the people who were abducted were missionary groups from Ohio. They were in distress on their first visit to this country in the Caribbean.

　　According to the "Washington Post" report, the Ohio-based mission organization "Christian Aid Ministries" stated through an audio that "men, women and children" associated with the organization were kidnapped by an armed group.

　　The source pointed out that the Haitian armed gang 400 Mawozo is said to have kidnapped them, which has been haunted between Port-au-Prince and the Dominican border for several months.

　　400 Mawozo also hijacked several vehicles in the traffic hubs they controlled, even hijacked buses, kidnapped locals and foreigners for ransom, usually several times the annual income of the Haitian people.

　　The place where the mission team was kidnapped in the early morning of the 16th was the main traffic road occupied by 400 Mawozo. In addition to American citizens, an unknown number of Haitian citizens were also kidnapped.

Civil society calls for release

United States and Canada

　　After the kidnapping occurred, a Haitian civil society called for immediate release.

Zion, director of the Human Rights Analysis and Research Center in Port-au-Prince, said: "We call for the release of kidnapped victims, regardless of whether they are American citizens or other nationalities."

　　Jin said that in the vicinity of the capital Port-au-Prince and other provinces and cities, "the police can no longer compete with armed gangs, their organizations are growing and controlling more and more areas."

　　The U.S. State Department did not disclose details. A spokesperson only said: “The well-being and safety of American citizens overseas is the State Department’s top priority. We have taken note of relevant reports and there is no further information to provide so far.”

　　A spokesperson for the Canadian Department of Global Affairs told CNN that Canadian officials will work with local authorities and "implicated NGOs" to collect information.

　　According to a source from the Haitian Security Forces, the investigation is ongoing and he blamed the kidnappings on local gang members.

The country’s foreign minister, Claude Joseph, told CNN that Haitian officials are in contact with the US State Department about the kidnapping.

Assassinations, earthquakes, kidnappings

A turbulent year

　　Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and the surge in gang violence has displaced thousands of people and hindered economic activity.

After the assassination of the country’s President Moise in July this year and the earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people in August, local violence has escalated.

　　On the 15th, the United Nations Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Haiti for nine months until July 15, 2022.

　　At the UN Security Council meeting on the 15th, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said: “As we all know, Haiti has been particularly turbulent in the past year. By extending the mandate of BINUH (United Nations Mission in Haiti), we help ensure that the United Nations It can continue its important efforts to support democratic institutions and electoral planning, strengthen the rule of law, and promote stability."

　　According to a UN press release, Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph earlier this month urged the UN Security Council to strengthen the mission of the UN mission to help ensure the safety and protection of civilians.

　　Joseph said: "These are the reasonable expectations of people who have suffered gang violence, kidnapping and widespread crime."