According to a study released recently by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, at least 328 kidnappings were documented to Haiti’s National Police during the first eight months of 2021, compared to 234 for the entire year of 2020. Compared to the United States ranking 30th for crime level, Haiti has ranked 1st with a 34% difference.
Members of a gang have recently kidnapped a total of 16 Americans and one Canadian all of who formed part of a U.S.-based missionary group. There are adults from the ages 18 to 48 and children from 8 months to 15 years among the missionaries kidnapped. These missionaries had been helping rebuild homes that were lost during the 7.2 earthquakes back on August 14th. Their mission was to minister throughout Haiti’s impoverished country. Unfortunately, their work did not seem worthy of this criminal affiliation.
The members of the missionary had just returned from a visit to an orphanage, where they dedicated their time when they were abducted. According to the Christian Aid Ministries, the missionaries carried out tasks such as distributing Christian literature, giving clinics the medicine they needed, and helping the elderly of the community get fed.
The group of individuals involved in the kidnapping is asking for $1million per person coming to a total of $17million. Kidnappings of foreign assistance workers were once uncommon, despite the fact that kidnapping has long been a threat to Haitians. In August, the United States State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advice for Haiti, citing kidnappings, criminality, and civil turmoil.
In light of the recent event, missionary organizations have decided to stay home but continue to influence the support of Haitians.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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