FBI aiding effort to free US missionaries taken in Haiti: White House
MILLERSBURG, Ohio – The audacious abduction of U.S. missionaries and their family members as they left an orphanage outside Port-au-Prince has brought the political strife sweeping across Haiti back home to this quiet Ohio town.
Seventeen people – seven women, five men, five children, all Americans except one Canadian – were seized Saturday in the community of Ganthier east of the capital, the Millersburg-based Christian Aid Ministries said.
“We are seeking God’s direction for a resolution, and authorities are seeking ways to help,” the missionary group said in a statement.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the FBI and State Department are working toward gaining release of the hostages. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the abduction and is receiving regular updates, she said.
“The FBI is part of a coordinated U.S. government effort to get the U.S. citizens involved to safety,” Psaki said at a news conference. “We are not going to go into too much detail on that but can confirm their engagement.”
Psaki said the U.S. embassy is “providing assistance to the families to resolve the situation.”
The kidnapping was the work of the 400 Mawozo gang, which controls the area where the attack took place, Haitian police say. The gang – whose name loosely translates from Creole to “400 unskilled,” or “400 inexperienced” – was blamed for the April kidnapping of five priests and two nuns.
In that case, the gang initially demanded a $1 million ransom. All seven were later released but authorities did not say if a ransom was paid.
Months before that attack, Haitian police had issued a wanted poster for the gang’ alleged leader, Wilson Joseph on charges including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, auto theft and the hijacking of trucks carrying goods.
‘We commit this situation to God’: Holmes County missionaries kidnapped in Haiti
It was not clear why the gang would target Christian Aid Ministries. Aid groups in Haiti often rely on guarantees of safe passage from gang leaders who issue public assurances for aid workers. Still, the disintegration of government control in recent months has fueled an alarming increase in kidnappings.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R- Illinois, told CNN the US should negotiate with the kidnappers, but not pay ransom.
“We need to track down where they are and see if negotiations – without paying ransom – are possible,” he said, adding “Or do whatever we need to do, on a military front or police front.”
Christian Aid Ministries includes Amish, Mennonite and other conservative and Baptist denominations and has worked in Haiti as part of its global mission “to minister to physical and spiritual needs.” Workers returned to Haiti last year after staying away for nine months because of safety concerns stemming from gang violence.
Millersburg, 65 miles south of Cleveland, is home to about 3,000 people. Resident James Beachy, 59, said his family and others volunteer at Christian Aid Ministries, sorting clothes or funneling donations.
“They do a great job in Haiti and third world countries to help people,” Beachy said. “We’re just glad to be a part of people who can help.”
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