Two of the 17 American and Canadian Christian missionaries kidnapped in Haiti last month have been released, according to the organization that organized their trip to the Caribbean country.
"We have received word that two of the hostages in Haiti have been released," Christian Aid Ministries, located in Ohio, stated in a statement.
After visiting an orphanage in October, the 16 Americans and one Canadian, including five children, were kidnapped. The episode has brought attention to Haiti's serious kidnapping problem, which has grown as a result of the country's economic and political challenges, as well as growing violence.
A request for reaction from Haitian officials was not immediately returned. Officials originally stated that a gang known as 400 Mawozo was demanding a $1 million ransom each person. In a video uploaded on YouTube last month, a man claiming to be the gang's commander warned he was willing to kill captives if he did not obtain what he needed.
