VOA慢速英语2021 在海地被绑架的17名美加传教士中2人获释（在线收听）

Two of 17 Hostages Held in Haiti Released

Two members of a U.S.-based religious group who were taken hostage last month in Haiti have been released.

上个月在海地被劫持为人质的两名传教士已经获释。这两名传教士是一个总部位于美国的宗教组织的成员。

The organization that sent the missionaries, Christian Aid Ministries, announced the release on Sunday.

派遣这些传教士的组织“基督教援助部”周日宣布了这一消息。

A spokesman for Haiti's national police force also confirmed the release to news agencies.

海地国家警察部队的一名发言人也向新闻机构证实了这一消息。

The group of 16 American citizens and one Canadian was kidnapped by a group called 400 Mawozo on October 16.

10月16日，一个名为“400 Mawozo”的团伙绑架了一个传教士小组，该小组由16名美国人和1名加拿大人组成。

There are five children in the group, including an 8-month-old.

该小组有5名儿童，其中包括一个8个月大的孩子。

The organization said the group was taken while on a trip to visit an orphanage--a home for children who do not have parents to take care of them.

该组织表示，该小组是在去参观孤儿院的途中被绑架的，孤儿院是没有父母照顾的儿童的家。

In a statement, Christian Aid Ministries said the released hostages were safe and "in good spirits".

在一份声明中，“基督教援助部”表示，被释放的两名人质是安全的，并且“精神状态良好”。

"While we rejoice at this release, our hearts are with the 15 people who are still being held," the Ohio-based group said.

这个总部位于俄亥俄州的组织说：“虽然我们为这次人质获释感到高兴，但我们的心与仍被关押的15人在一起。”

The statement did not give the names of those freed or provide any other information about the release.

这份声明没有公布获释人质的姓名，也没有提供任何有关此次获释的其他信息。

The leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands are met.

“400 Mawozo”团伙头目曾威胁称，除非他的要求得到满足，否则他们将会杀死人质。

Haitian officials have said the gang had demanded up to $1 million for each person.

海地官员曾表示，该团伙要求每人高达100万美元的赎金。

The release comes as Haiti struggles with a recent rise in gang-related kidnappings.

两名人质获释之际，海地正在努力应对最近频繁发生的与帮派有关的绑架事件。

Increasing crime and insecurity followed the murder of President Jovenel Moise on July 7 and a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people in August.

继7月7日海地总统若弗内尔·莫伊兹遇刺身亡以及8月份发生的造成2200多人死亡的强烈地震之后，海地的犯罪率和不安全感不断上升。

The issues led the U.S. government recently to urge U.S. citizens to leave Haiti.

这些问题导致美国政府最近敦促美国公民离开海地。

On Friday, Canada announced it was withdrawing all but necessary employees from its embassy.

周五，加拿大宣布其将撤出驻海地大使馆的非必要人员。

A fuel shortage has forced hospitals to turn away patients and affected public transportation.

燃料短缺迫使医院拒绝接收病人，并影响了公共交通。

The situation also led some schools to close and businesses to shorten their work hours.

这种情况还导致一些学校停课，企业缩短工作时间。

Words in This Story

missionary – n. a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work (such as to persuade people to join a religion or to help people who are sick, poor, etc.)

rejoice – v. to feel very happy because something good has happened

gang – n. a group of criminals