[ti:Two of 17 Hostages Held in Haiti Released]
[by:www.21voa.com]
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[00:00.04]Two members of a U.S.-based religious group
[00:04.28]who were taken hostage last month in Haiti have been released.
[00:10.32]The organization that sent the missionaries, Christian Aid Ministries,
[00:17.24]announced the release on Sunday.
[00:21.28]A spokesman for Haiti's national police force
[00:25.60]also confirmed the release to news agencies.
[00:30.48]The group of 16 American citizens and one Canadian
[00:36.52]was kidnapped by a group called 400 Mawozo on October 16.
[00:44.28]There are five children in the group, including an 8-month-old.
[00:51.32]The organization said the group was taken
[00:55.60]while on a trip to visit an orphanage - a home for children
[01:00.76]who do not have parents to take care of them.
[01:04.32]In a statement, Christian Aid Ministries said
[01:09.56]the released hostages were safe and "in good spirits."
[01:15.36]"While we rejoice at this release,
[01:19.60]our hearts are with the 15 people who are still being held,"
[01:25.00]the Ohio-based group said.
[01:28.44]The statement did not give the names of those freed
[01:33.36]or provide any other information about the release.
[01:39.00]The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang
[01:43.48]has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met.
[01:50.20]Haitian officials have said the gang had demanded
[01:54.60]up to $1 million for each person.
[01:59.48]The release comes as Haiti struggles with a recent rise
[02:05.08]in gang-related kidnappings.
[02:08.20]Increasing crime and insecurity
[02:11.76]followed the murder of President Jovenel Moise
[02:16.32]on July 7 and a powerful earthquake
[02:20.72]that killed more than 2,200 people in August.
[02:26.72]The issues led the U.S. government recently
[02:30.88]to urge U.S. citizens to leave Haiti.
[02:35.40]On Friday, Canada announced it was withdrawing
[02:40.52]all but necessary employees from its embassy.
[02:45.96]A fuel shortage has forced hospitals to turn away patients
[02:51.52]and affected public transportation.
[02:55.12]The situation also led some schools to close
[03:00.40]and businesses to shorten their work hours.
[03:05.04]I'm Bryan Lynn.更多听力请访问21VOA.COM