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Residents fly their homes pursuing clashes betwixt equipped gangs successful Port-au-Prince past month
Armed men successful Haiti person kidnapped the defence minister's main of staff, the highest-ranking authoritative to beryllium kidnapped successful the violence-wracked Caribbean state successful caller years.
Top information authoritative James Boyard, who is besides inspector wide of Haiti's police, was seized successful the island's superior Port-au-Prince connected Thursday.
Both the Associated Press quality bureau and the New York Times confirmed his abduction via sources, with the paper adding Boyard's woman and six-year-old girl were besides taken.
A ransom has been requested, according to the New York Times, who cited a idiosyncratic acquainted with the case.
Boyard, a highly respected information expert, is main of unit to Mario Andrésol who was appointed successful March.
He was tasked with helping rebuild Haiti's equipped forces.
Diego Da Rin, an expert with the International Crisis Group, told AP quality bureau kidnappings are progressively occurring successful areas of Port-au-Prince erstwhile considered safe.
He added pack members person been kidnapping radical with treble nationalities and targeting nationalist officials, which could mean they are trying to question higher ransoms oregon perchance dissuade authorities from attacking gang-controlled areas wherever hostages are held.
So acold this year, gang-related unit has resulted successful astatine slightest 2,310 deaths, 1,106 injuries and 99 kidnappings, according to the United Nations earlier this month.
It has besides caused grounds levels of displacement with astir 1.5 cardinal radical without a spot to live, according to the latest figures released by the UN migration agency.
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