Currents News Staff
The entire country has fallen victim in some way. The economy is suffering, children fear walking to school and even to church. Everywhere people are worried that they could be next.
A 15-year-old schoolgirl was kidnapped in September and released seven days later after an unimaginable ordeal.
“About three men were holding my hands and feet,” the young girl said. “They raped me. They took me somewhere. And I entered inside of the house. They tore off my clothes. They blindfolded my eyes and just left enough for me to see.”
Her mother says the kidnappers demanded $50,000 dollars. The family banded together and sold everything they owned to get her back.
“They told me if I didn’t come to get her, they would kill her,” said the mother of the 15-year-old girl. “I didn’t have the money. I called my family from the countryside to help out. I negotiated with them for $20,000 Haitian dollars, but they rejected the offer. I then called my family; they sold what they had, and we settled on $30,000 Haitian dollars, and they told me they would release her.”
UNICEF says more than 100 Haitians have been abducted so far this year. The organization has provided victim’s counseling and relocation for this girl and her mom. They’ve been working with local NGO’s that cater to women in distress.
“Because we have received so many cases of kidnappings, the space has been reserved for 25 women,” said Coordinator Lamercie Charles Pierre.
Her NGO, Organization of Courageous Women in Action, is making space for more women.
“Now we have exceeded that number,” she said. “That’s why we have land. We will build a bigger center to welcome more women, more victims.”