According to a senior Biden administration official, at least some of the 17 American and Canadian missionaries who were abducted in mid-October by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti have been confirmed alive.
As reported by Reuters, the official, who chose to remain anonymous, said that the U.S. government has seen proof that some of the missionaries are still alive.
The missionaries are from the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, were abducted by the gang on Oct. 16 after visiting an orphanage. Five children, who were with the missionaries, were also kidnapped.
Christian Aid Ministries said in an update — “It is now the 24th day of this crisis, and our workers and loved ones are still being held hostage in Haiti. We, along with government authorities, continue to work hard to bring them home safely. This is our heartfelt desire, but we want to surrender to God’s plan and timing.”
Wilson Joseph, the 400 Mawozo gang leader, recently threatened to kill the missionaries if his demands were not met. The crime boss had requested a ransom of $1 million per missionary.
Last Thursday, the Ministry of Defense in Haiti’s neighboring Dominican Republic confirmed that five U.S. helicopters were likely traveling to Haiti as part of a humanitarian mission.
The helicopters caused a stir on social media, due to the political crisis.
The abduction of the 17 missionaries comes after the kidnapping of a Haitian-American pastor in early October. The pastor has since been released.