Eight Irish missionaries were liberated in Haiti following a kidnapping incident that occurred during an orphanage assault.
In a relief for the international community, eight hostages, including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, have been freed following a month-long ordeal at the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Haiti.
Gena Heraty, the director of a special needs program at the orphanage, was among those held captive. The orphanage, run by Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, an international charity, cares for more than 240 children.
The area where the attack occurred is controlled by a gang federation known as "Viv Ansanm," a group that the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation. However, no responsibility has been claimed for the attack.
The current Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has proposed the creation of a new international force capable of holding territory, securing infrastructure, and supporting the Haitian National Police to combat gang violence. While specific details about a "Gang Suppression Force" have not been explicitly stated, the UN Security Council (UNSC) has received an announcement from Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea about a potential new force to tackle violence in Haiti.
The escalating level of violence in Haiti, particularly in its capital, Port-au-Prince, has seen gangs controlling much of the city. Kidnappings are common, and missionaries have been abducted in the past.
The US government is seeking UN authorization for this new force, aiming to help stabilize the volatile situation in Haiti. Simon Harris, Ireland's deputy prime minister, has confirmed the release of the hostages, but the Haitian authorities have yet to comment on the matter.
It's unclear if this new force would be different from the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support force currently deployed. The ordeal of the Saint-Hélène hostages serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti, and the urgent need for effective intervention.
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