In Haiti, nine people abducted in an orphanage, including a disabled child and an Irish missionary

Nine people were kidnapped on Sunday. Meanwhile, August 3, in Haiti, said officials of this Caribbean haiti, nine people abducted orphanage, country in the grip of the violence of criminal gangs. They were kidnapped in the middle of the night in Kenscoff. a commune located south-east of the capital, Port-au-Prince, within their Sainte-Hélène orphanage of the organization “Our little brothers and sisters”, established in many countries of Central and South America.

Among these victims are the head of the establishment. Gena Heraty, an Irish national missionary, seven Haitian employees and a 3-year-old child with disabilities, the mayor of Kenscoff, Masillon Jean, and a source close to the humanitarian organization.

“The attackers burst into the orphanage around 3:30 a.m. morning [9 h 30, heure de Paris]without opening fire. They pierced a wall to enter the property before heading to the building where the manager lived. and leaving with the nine hostages ”explained the councilor, evoking “A planned action”.

No claim or ransom request have been made. M^me Heraty. however, was able to briefly come into telephone contact with employees on Sunday morning to confirm the removal, said the source close to the orphanage.

Police who struggle to restore security – Haiti, nine people abducted orphanage,

Sainte-Hélène welcomes around 270 children, including fifty living with a handicap. On the website of “Our little brothers. sisters”, Gena Heraty is presented as an Irishwoman “Manager of children’s and young adult programs with disabilities in Haiti” And living in the poorest country of the Americas since 1993.

In recent years there have been a number of abductions of foreign missionaries in Haiti. In April 2021. ten people, including two French priests, had been kidnapped bouquets by the gang “400 mawozo”, before being released twenty days later. This same group had been behind the rapidly six months later of sixteen American missionaries. a Canadian from the organization “Christian Aid Minister”.

Since January. the municipality of Kenscoff has been the target of the criminal coalition “VIV ANSANM”, which has already taken control of several localities and has made their inhabitants flee. The police are struggling to restore security in this area.

At least 3. 141 people were killed in Haiti between 1^is January and June 30, in July alarmed the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, fearing that the violence of gangs, which has been intensifying since 2024, destabilizes other Caribbean countries.