Kidnapping Crisis: Irish Missionary and Toddler Among Victims in Haiti Orphanage Attack

Tragic news from Haiti underscores the increasing danger facing aid workers and vulnerable populations as inquiries about the safety of hostages continue to loom large.

Nine individuals, including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, have fallen victim to a kidnapping incident at the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The facility, directed by Gena Heraty, was stormed by armed assailants early Sunday morning, as reported by Mayor Massillon Jean. Alongside Heraty, seven employees and a child were taken away during the incident, which saw the attackers breach the property without firing any shots, indicating a premeditated operation.

The gang-related assault marks a continuation of the alarming trend of kidnappings in Haiti, where armed groups wreak havoc across the nation. Although no ransom demands have been made so far, the UN has noted that these criminal factions control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince.

Gena Heraty, originally from County Mayo, Ireland, has devoted her life to humanitarian work in Haiti since 1993, even amid escalating threats to her own safety. She previously conveyed her steadfast commitment to remaining in Haiti for the sake of the children under her care.

The sociopolitical climate in Haiti has deteriorated significantly, with gangs responsible for over 350 abductions and 3,141 homicides in just the first half of 2025. The UN Human Rights Office has expressed grave concern about the ongoing violence, which threatens to exacerbate instability and destabilize communities already grappling with basic survival challenges. Current estimates indicate that over 1.3 million people have been displaced as a direct result of the conflict.

With the humanitarian situation becoming increasingly dire, the world watches and waits, hoping that the plight of the kidnapped will find a resolution, and that peace may one day prevail in Haiti.