PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – In a significant development, six children and seven women were released by a gang that had kidnapped over 50 individuals following a violent attack on a community near Port-au-Prince. This incident unfolded nearly a week ago and was reported by UNICEF.

UNICEF announced late Friday that among those freed were three children under the age of two, a seven-year-old, and two teenage girls. This release marks a rare moment of relief amid the escalating violence directed towards children in Haiti.

Yannig Dussart, UNICEF's deputy representative in Haiti, stated, "This release offers a rare moment of hope amid the violence threatening children in Haiti." He emphasized that the mass abduction in Kenscoff is not an isolated event, but a stark reminder of the alarming frequency and scale of attacks on children throughout the country.

To facilitate the release, UNICEF collaborated with local community leaders. However, it remains unclear whether the released individuals required medical attention and if there are still more women and children held captive by the gang.

While instances of individual kidnappings have become commonplace in Haiti, mass abductions are relatively rare. The outcomes of such situations vary significantly; some hostages are released without any ransom being paid, while others tragically lose their lives, even after ransoms have been paid.

During the attack late on Sunday, at least 47 individuals were reported killed in Kenscoff, a once-peaceful farming community situated in the hills above the capital. The violence was orchestrated by a gang led by an individual known as Izo 2, who ominously threatened to execute all hostages if police took any action against gang members during their efforts to regain control in Kenscoff.

Izo 2 leads an armed faction in the region and works in collaboration with other powerful gang leaders, including Izo, who has established himself as one of the most influential figures in Haiti's ongoing gang-related violence.