American Nurse and Daughter Kidnapped in Haiti as Gang Violence Escalates
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The ongoing gang violence in Haiti has taken a devastating turn with the recent kidnapping of an American nurse from New Hampshire and her young daughter. The nurse, Alix Dorsainvil, was working for nonprofit Christian ministry El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were abducted last Thursday. As the search for them continues, the incident highlights the dire situation in Haiti, where gangs now control up to 80% of the capital.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, Haiti has seen an alarming increase in gang-related crimes. Hundreds of people have been reported kidnapped since January, surpassing previous years’ figures. In response to the surge in violence, civilian vigilante groups have risen to fight against the gangs.
Nonprofit organizations are often the only institutions providing basic services in Haiti’s lawless areas. However, the escalating violence has forced many of these groups to close, leaving vulnerable communities without access to healthcare and education. Doctors Without Borders recently had to suspend services in one of its hospitals after armed men stormed an operating room and abducted a patient.
Eyewitnesses recounted that Alix Dorsainvil was working in a small brick clinic when armed men burst in and took her. The unidentified kidnappers have demanded a $1 million ransom, which is a common practice among the gangs in Haiti. According to the local nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, hundreds of kidnappings have taken place in Haiti this year alone.
The security situation in Haiti has prompted the U.S. State Department to advise Americans to avoid travel to the country and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave. The United States and other countries have also offered assistance to help combat the violence. Kenya’s Foreign Ministry announced that it had offered 1,000 police officers to train and assist the Haitian National Police in restoring order.
Protests have erupted in response to Dorsainvil’s kidnapping, with around 200 Haitians taking to the streets in the capital to show their anger and demand her release. Many of the protesters come from the area surrounding El Roi Haiti’s campus, which includes a medical clinic and a school. They emphasized the positive impact of the organization’s work in the community.
The abduction of Alix Dorsainvil has raised concerns about the future of El Roi Haiti’s operations. The clinic where Dorsainvil worked remains closed, and community members fear that without the nonprofit group’s presence, essential programs will shut down. Residents are worried about the impact on the vulnerable population who rely on the organization’s services.
The State Department has been in regular contact with Haitian authorities regarding the abduction but has not disclosed further details about the ongoing investigation. El Roi Haiti, in a blog post, expressed their determination to work with authorities in both countries to secure the release of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter. They called for prayers for the safety and freedom of the kidnapped nurse and her child, as well as for the country and people of Haiti.
The alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the intensifying gang violence and the hardships faced by the Haitian people on a daily basis. Efforts to address the security crisis and provide assistance to the nation continue as the search for Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter continues.
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AP journalists Megan Janetsky in Mexico City and Pierre Richard Luxama in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.