Overview

• Six nuns and two others were kidnapped by an armed gang in Haiti last week, with the gang reportedly demanding $3 million for their release.
• Pope Francis and the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince have both pleaded for the release of the hostages and called for an end to the violence in Haiti.
• Religious leaders in Haiti have criticized the government's lack of action against the increasing gang violence and kidnappings, which they say have created a 'reign of terror'.
• Kidnappings in Haiti have increased by over 80% in the last year, with nearly 2,500 people taken hostage in 2023 according to U.N. statistics.
• The Haitian police force remains underfunded and overwhelmed, with less than 10,000 active officers in a country of over 11 million people.