“We are told that two of the hostages in Haiti have been released. We praise God for this! Only limited information can be provided, but we can report that the two hostages were both released. safe, in good spirits and cared for. for,” the organization said Sunday.
“While we are excited about this release, our hearts go out to the fifteen people still in custody,” the statement also said.
CNN has yet to receive confirmation from US or Haitian authorities that any of the hostages have been released.
Haitian police, the US Embassy in Haiti, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State and the Office of the Prime Minister, the US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The US and Haitian authorities, as well as the aid organization, have largely kept quiet about the negotiations to release the hostages. Earlier, Haitian Minister of Justice and Interior Liszt Quitel told CNN that their captors had demanded $1 million for each hostage.
Kidnapping for ransom in Haiti is common and often indiscriminate, targeting the rich and the poor, young and old. Increased crime has led to political instability in the country, with kidnappings increasing in the months following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July, according to local human rights group CARDH. CARDH local human rights. The 400 Mawozo group is particularly notorious for its group kidnappings.
“Has a month ever been this long? We think back to the first days when our hopes were placed on a quick response and timely release. The unnamed mother of one of the hostages. in an earlier statement from the Department of Christian Aid, issued Nov.
CNN’s Samantha Beech, Joe Sutton, Etant Dupain and Matt Rivers contributed to this report.
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