Haitian Gangs Release Some Women and Children After Mass Kidnapping of 50

Haitian gangs have released 13 captives, including six children and seven women, who were among over 50 people kidnapped during a violent assault on the community of Kenscoff on August 23, 2026. This development offers a rare glimmer of hope amidst escalating violence in the region, which also saw at least 47 people killed during the gang's initial attack.

UNICEF confirmed the release, noting that among the freed children were three under the age of two, a seven-year-old, and two teenage girls. The organization collaborated with community leaders to secure their freedom, highlighting the persistent threat that armed violence poses to children across Haiti.

The mass abduction followed an attack by an estimated 150 armed gang members, who opened fire on residents and forced people from a church where they had sought refuge. This incident marks another in a series of attacks on Kenscoff since early 2025, underscoring the expanding influence of gangs beyond the capital and the ongoing challenge to state authority. The UN's Special Representative for Haiti has urged the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.