Irish Missionary and Toddler Among Nine Abducted in Haiti Orphanage Raid

Nine individuals, including a humanitarian worker from Ireland and a young child, were abducted from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, amid escalating gang violence. Gena Heraty, the facility's director, has reportedly lived in Haiti since 1993 and was leading efforts to provide care for vulnerable children. No ransom demands have been made yet.

Nine individuals, comprising an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, have been kidnapped from the privately-run Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, as reported by local officials. The incident occurred during the early hours of Sunday morning, with Gena Heraty, the orphanage's director, among those taken. Mayor Massillon Jean stated that the assailants, believed to be gang members, entered the orphanage by breaking through a wall around 3:30 AM (07:30 GMT).

The orphanage is home to more than 240 children, some with disabilities, and the kidnapping highlights the ongoing crisis of gang violence and instability in Haiti. Heraty, who has dedicated her life to humanitarian work in Haiti since 1993, confirmed her abduction in a call to the organization that operates the orphanage, Our Little Brothers and Sisters. As of now, there have been no ransom demands.

The Irish Foreign Affairs Department has acknowledged the situation and is providing consular support. Heraty has previously expressed her commitment to the children at the orphanage, stating, "The children are why I'm still here. We're in this together," in an interview last year despite escalating threats to her safety.

Gang activity in Kenscoff has been rampant since early 2025, with criminal organizations controlling vast areas of Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions. Efforts by Haitian police, in collaboration with Kenyan police and foreign contractors, have struggled to dislodge these gangs from their strongholds.

The UN has reported alarming statistics regarding displaced persons due to gang violence in Haiti, with over one million now internally displaced, a situation exacerbated by the record levels of crime. In the first half of 2025 alone, nearly 350 people were kidnapped in Haiti, highlighting an ongoing humanitarian crisis that demands urgent attention from the international community.