American missionaries kidnapped in Haiti

The U.S. government is aware of reports of the kidnapping Saturday of 17 Christian missionaries and their families in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The Associated Press reported this on Sunday.

Earlier, The New York Times reported on the kidnapping of 17 Christian missionaries from the United States and their families by intruders in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. According to the newspaper, the American citizens were on a bus headed for the airport. Some of the missionaries were on their way from the air harbor to another part of Haiti.

Abductions have become common in the country, observers say, but the capture of such a large group of Americans has shocked authorities. By some estimates, the gangs now control about half the capital.

On the night of July 7, President Jovenel Moise of Haiti was assassinated. A few weeks later, an earthquake killed more than 2,200 Haitians. Against this background, UN agencies report a deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country.