An Irish missionary and a three-year-old child are among nine people missing in Haiti after a mass kidnapping from an orphanage in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
The victims were seized from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 6.2 miles (10km) south-east of the capital on Sunday, officials said.
Among them was Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary who oversees the orphanage – operated by the humanitarian organization Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (“Our Little Brothers and Sisters”).
A three-year-old child and seven employees were also taken, according to Kenscoff mayor Massillon Jean and a separate source close to the organization.
“The attackers broke into the orphanage around 3.30 am (7.30 GMT) without opening fire,” Jean said, calling it a “planned act”.
“They broke through a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the director was staying, leaving with nine hostages.”
No demands or ransom requests have been made, though Heraty called the organization early Sunday to confirm she was among the kidnapped, a source close to the organization told AFP.
Heraty, who has lived in Haiti since 1993, runs the orphanage which cares for up to 270 children.
She is the latest foreign missionary to become the victim of kidnapping in Haiti.
In April 2021, two French priests were among 10 people kidnapped in Croix-des-Bouquets before they were released nearly three weeks later.
The same group behind that kidnapping, the 400 Mawazo gang, took a group of 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage six months later.
Since the start of this year, Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the Viv Ansanm (“Living Together”) gang, which has already taken control of several other localities.
Haiti has been engulfed by a wave of deadly violence since the 2021 murder of its president, Jovenel Moïse. Heavily armed gangs have brought chaos to its capital, Port-au-Prince, since launching an insurrection that toppled the prime minister last year.
On Monday, the United States on Monday issued a security alert after heavy gunfire erupted near its embassy in Port-au-Prince.
“US government personnel have paused all official movement outside the embassy compound,” the State Department said in a statement.
The UN high commissioner for human rights said at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year, where the growing impact of gang violence threatens to further destabilize the nation.
