PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – On Monday, eight individuals, including Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary, and a 3-year-old child, remained unaccounted for following a violent assault on the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Haiti. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of violence in an area dominated by armed gangs, specifically a federation known as "Viv Ansanm," which the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The attack occurred early on Sunday, prompting authorities to swiftly initiate the relocation of numerous children and staff members from the orphanage, which is managed by the international charity Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs. This organization provides care for over 240 children, as indicated on its official website. In response to the crisis, Haiti's Institute of Social Welfare and Research is collaborating with UNICEF to identify safe sites for the children and employees.
At present, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, deepening concerns regarding the safety of those involved. Gena Heraty, who has devoted her life to humanitarian work in Haiti since 1993, has extensive experience with the dangers posed by gang violence. In 2013, she was threatened during a similar incident at the orphanage that resulted in the tragic death of a colleague. Her family expressed their devastation over the recent kidnappings, describing the situation as "evolving and deeply worrying."
This incident marks another high-profile kidnapping of foreign missionaries in Haiti. Notably, in 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang abducted 17 missionaries, including five children, from a U.S.-based organization, holding them captive for 61 days. Such events highlight the escalating violence in the region, particularly in Kenscoff, a formerly peaceful area within the Port-au-Prince metropolitan zone.
Following the attack, the orphanage's doors remained closed as the local community faced threats from armed gangs, which have intensified attacks since January. Farmers in the region, feeling unsafe, began to flee their homes. One farmer, 41-year-old Sala Désire, described the dire situation as he carried his belongings up a mountain, indicating that fear had driven the community to abandon their homes.
Joceline Souffrant, a 52-year-old resident, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Everyone is running. We can’t stay in the area because of the shooting." The worsening violence has displaced many, forcing families to seek refuge in safer areas.
Irelands' Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris condemned the kidnappings, labeling them as "deeply worrying" and calling for the immediate release of the abducted individuals. Amidst increasing incidents of kidnapping in Haiti, the United Nations reported that at least 175 people were abducted between April and the end of June this year, with 37% of those cases occurring in Port-au-Prince. The Grand Ravine and Village de Dieu gangs, part of the Viv Ansanm federation, have been attributed to the majority of these violent incidents.
The situation in Haiti continues to be precarious as the alarming trend of gang violence and kidnappings brings fear and uncertainty to communities and humanitarian workers alike. As authorities grapple with maintaining safety, the international community watches with concerns regarding the ongoing crisis in Haiti.
