UNICEF Staff Freed After Three Weeks in Captivity Amid Rising Kidnappings in Haiti

After three weeks in captivity, five UNICEF employees were released Monday night in Haiti, where criminal gangs increasingly resort to kidnappings to fund their illicit activities.

On July 7, six individuals were abducted during an authorized UNICEF mission in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood controlled by armed factions. One hostage was freed the very next day, while the remaining five were held until their recent release.

Details regarding any ransom payments remain undisclosed.

Gangs in Haiti are increasingly relying on kidnapping victims for ransom as a means to procure weapons and ammunition, tightening their violent hold on the capital and nearby regions. Analysts note that these groups are shifting away from dependence on elite business supporters, instead generating revenue through extortion, imposed road tolls, and abductions.

According to United Nations data, nearly 350 kidnappings were reported in the first half of this year alone. The total number of abductions in 2024 reached 1,494, reflecting a significant rise in gang-related violence.

While the exact number of kidnappings last year may have been higher, the upward trend over recent years is clear.

UNICEF statistics indicate that approximately 300 kidnappings occurred in the first six months of 2023, equaling the total cases documented for the entire previous year and nearly tripling those recorded in 2021.