Haiti Gang Releases Thirteen Hostages as UNICEF Demands Action Following Brutal Attack

A gang in Haiti has released six children and seven women who were among more than 50 people kidnapped nearly a week ago following a deadly assault on a community near Port-au-Prince, according to UNICEF.

The United Nations children's agency announced late Friday that the released individuals include three children under the age of 2, a 7-year-old, and two teenage girls. Yannig Dussart, UNICEF's deputy representative in Haiti, stated that the release offers a rare moment of hope amid ongoing violence threatening children throughout the country, while noting that the Kenscoff abduction was part of a broader pattern of attacks.

UNICEF worked alongside community leaders to help secure the release of these women and children. It remains unclear whether they require medical treatment or if additional women and children are still being held.

While individual kidnappings are common in Haiti, mass abductions remain unusual. The aftermath of these incidents varies, with some victims freed without ransom and others killed despite multiple ransom payments. Gang members killed at least 47 people during the late Sunday raid on Kenscoff, a peaceful farming community situated in the hills above the capital.

A gang leader known as Izo 2 had threatened to execute all hostages if police intervened against gang members during operations to secure Kenscoff. Izo 2 leads an armed group in the area alongside other prominent figures, including Izo, who is regarded as one of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders.

The recent violence triggered widespread outrage during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday, where diplomats called for the swift deployment of a new U.N.-backed gang-fighting force. Luis Ruiz Massieu, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, reported that the attack generated a new wave of public indignation across Haitian society and among international partners.

Ruiz Massieu welcomed decisions by Haitian authorities to coordinate efforts between the national police, armed forces, and the gang suppression force. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta emphasized the United States' commitment to supporting Haitian-led security efforts, urging U.N. members to provide necessary equipment and resources.

Indrika Ratwatte, acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack displaced more than 2,600 people. He noted that nearly 1.5 million people, representing 12 percent of Haiti's population, are now internally displaced, and highlighted ongoing mass deportations and thousands of reported gender-based violence incidents.