Haiti Gang Releases Women and Children After Deadly Kidnapping Spree

A harrowing episode of violence and abduction in Haiti has finally reached a partial resolution, as a violent gang has released a number of women and children following a deadly attack on a community in Kenscoff, a farming community located near Port-au-Prince, the capital. The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, confirmed the release of six children and seven women, including three infants under the age of 2, a 7-year-old, and two teenage girls.

"This release offers a rare moment of hope amid the violence threatening children in Haiti," said Yannig Dussart, UNICEF's deputy representative in Haiti. Dussart emphasized that the Kenscoff abduction was not an isolated incident but rather another stark reminder of the escalating scale and frequency of attacks on children across the country.

While individual kidnappings in Haiti are unfortunately common, mass abductions such as this are less frequent. The outcomes of such events vary greatly; some individuals are released without ransom, while others are killed despite multiple ransom attempts. In the case of Kenscoff, the gang's brutal tactics left at least 47 people dead, including women and children, according to reports.

The gang responsible for the attack is known for its ruthless and organized nature. A gang leader, referred to as Izo 2, had issued a chilling threat to execute all the hostages if any gang members were killed during the police operation. Izo 2 leads an armed group in the area in coordination with other influential gang leaders, including Izo, considered one of Haiti's most powerful gang leaders.

The recent attack in Kenscoff sparked an immediate and widespread outcry. An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by the United States, Panama, and Colombia was convened to address the crisis. Diplomats expressed horror at the brutal attack and called for swift deployment of the new U.N.-backed gang-fighting force. Luis Ruiz Massieu, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, welcomed the decision by Haiti's authorities to bring together national police, armed forces, and the gang suppression force to coordinate their efforts.

Despite these efforts, many speakers at the Security Council meeting emphasized the urgent need to strengthen international security support for Haiti. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta vowed U.S. support for Haitian-led security efforts, urging U.N. members to provide equipment and resources for the gang suppression force to deploy as quickly as possible. Locetta also highlighted the gang coalitions' stated aim to prevent Haitian voters from electing their representatives in future elections, emphasizing the need to protect civilians from such terror.

The Kenscoff attack has had a devastating impact on the local community, with over 2,600 people forced to flee their homes, many for the second or third time. Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the event has left the affected population traumatized, searching for missing relatives, and uncertain about their future.

Furthermore, Ratwatte pointed out the ongoing crisis of deportations from the Dominican Republic and the Trump administration's efforts to remove Haitians living and working legally in the U.S., noting that in the first eight months of 2026, nearly 200,000 people were forcibly returned to Haiti.

The situation in Haiti remains dire, with violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises continuing to pose significant challenges. The recent events in Kenscoff serve as a grim reminder of the country's ongoing struggle to address the deep-seated issues that fuel gang activity and violence against its citizens.