Irish missionary among the eight released after Haiti orphanage kidnapping

Following a kidnapping at an orphanage in Haiti, eight people have been free, including a three-year-old girl and an Irish missionary.

The group’s captivity came to an end with the announcement on Friday, which included Irish missionary Gena Heraty, the director of the Saint-Helene orphanage’s special needs program.

In a statement posted on X, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris stated, “We warmly welcome the news that Gena and all of the Haitian nationals taken captive on [August 3], including a young child, are reported to be safe and well.

In Haiti, where gang violence has risen amid overlapping political, humanitarian, and security crises, kidnappings and ransoms have become more common.

The targeted orphanage was located in Port-au-Prince, which according to the United Nations has gangs controlling nearly 90% of the area.

The orphanage, which is run by the global charity Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs, serves more than 240 children, according to its website.

Not immediately available any additional information about the release. Although the Viv Ansanm gang federation controls the area, no one claimed responsibility for the school’s early August attack.

Heraty’s family said in a statement that they were “relieved beyond words.”

They wrote, “We continue to hold Haiti in our hearts and hope for peace and safety for all those there who are impacted by the ongoing armed violence and insecurity.”

Two French priests were among 10 people abducted by the “400 Mawozo” gang in April 2021 before being freed nearly three weeks later.

Six months later, the gang abducted 17 American and Canadian missionaries.

The UN Security Council is holding discussions to bolster a sluggish international police force that will be deployed to Haiti starting in June 2024 to combat the rising violence as they approach.

The US-backed mission currently has just under 1, 000 personnel there, which is a lot lower than the 2, 500 troops that were originally anticipated.

The US and Panama have released a draft proposal to transform the operation into a so-called “Gang Suppression Force” this week.

The proposal would authorize the deployment of up to 5,500 people and establish a UN office in Port-au-Prince to provide “full logistical support” for rations, fuel, medical services, ground transportation, and drone surveillance.

Further, it provided a strategy to encourage more volunteer and financial resources, but the draft did not specifically address the current mission’s lagging support. The UN reported earlier this month that less than 10% of Haiti’s efforts were being funded.

In Haiti, UN missions have historically led to sexual abuse scandals and cholera epidemics that have claimed more than 9, 000 lives.

The country’s leaders have asked for extraterrestrial assistance in response to the rising violence and displacement.

At least 3, 141 people have died in Haiti during the first half of this year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.