Remaining hostages kidnapped in Haiti released, says group

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The remaining 12 kidnapped members of the Christian Aid Ministries in the US were released Thursday in Haiti.

"We glorify God for answered prayer—the remaining twelve hostages are FREE!" the Ohio-based missionary group said in an update on their website.

"Join us in praising God that all seventeen of our loved ones are now safe. Thank you for your fervent prayers throughout the past two months. We hope to provide more information as we are able," it said.

Two hostages were freed in November and three more on Dec. 6.

The mass abduction occurred Oct. 16 when an armed group kidnapped 16 American missionaries and a Canadian citizen who were visiting an orphanage when their bus was seized in Ganthier in Port-au-Prince.

The 400 Mawozo, one of the country's oldest and most dangerous gangs, demanded $1 million each for their release and threatened to kill the hostages unless their demands were not met.

The humanitarian situation in Haiti has worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in June. Tensions are rising amid criminal gang violence, shortages of fuel, increases in food prices and a political vacuum that has plunged Haitians into deep uncertainty about the future.​​​​​​​