from nursing school in New Hampshire and felt called to serve in Haiti, where she has been working for the past two years. She is described as a dedicated and compassionate nurse who has made a positive impact on the community.
The kidnapping of Dorsainvil and her daughter highlights the dangerous and volatile situation in Haiti. Gang violence has been on the rise since the assassination of President Moïse, with gangs now controlling a significant portion of the capital. The surge in kidnappings, killings, and rapes has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups.
Nonprofit organizations, like El Roi Haiti, have been crucial in providing essential services to vulnerable families in Haiti’s lawless areas. However, the deepening violence has forced many of these organizations to close, leaving thousands without access to healthcare and education.
The kidnapping of Dorsainvil and the closure of the clinic where she worked have left the community devastated. Many fear that without the aid group’s programs, their access to healthcare will be severely limited. The community is calling for her release and for an end to the violence that has plagued their nation.
The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory, urging Americans to avoid travel to Haiti due to the widespread kidnappings that regularly target U.S. citizens. The department has also ordered nonemergency personnel to leave the country.
In response to the crisis, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry has offered 1,000 police officers to help train and assist the Haitian National Police in restoring normalcy and protecting strategic installations.
The safety and security of American citizens overseas is a top priority for the U.S. government. The State Department is in regular contact with Haitian authorities and is working with interagency partners to address the situation. However, due to the ongoing law enforcement investigation, specific details cannot be provided at this time.
The kidnapping of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter is a tragic reminder of the violence and instability that continues to plague Haiti. The international community must come together to support the Haitian people and work towards a peaceful and prosperous future for the nation.American Nurse and Daughter Kidnapped in Haiti Amidst Rising Gang Violence
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 the nonprofit Christian ministry El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were seized last Thursday. As of Tuesday, her daughter remains missing.
Haiti’s gangs have gained significant power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, and are now believed to control up to 80% of the capital. This surge in gang violence has led to a sharp increase in kidnappings, killings, and rapes, prompting civilian vigilante groups to rise up in response.
The abduction of Alix Dorsainvil has sparked anger among the Haitian community, with around 200 people marching in the capital to demand her release. Dorsainvil is the wife of Sandro Dorsainvil, the founder of El Roi Haiti. Nonprofit organizations like El Roi Haiti are often the only institutions providing essential services in Haiti’s lawless areas. However, the escalating violence has forced many of these groups to close, leaving vulnerable families without access to healthcare and education.
Witnesses reported that armed men stormed the small brick clinic where Alix Dorsainvil was working and forcibly took her. Lormina Louima, who was waiting for a check-up, described the terrifying moment when one of the men pulled out a gun. The unidentified kidnappers have demanded a $1 million ransom, a common practice among the gangs terrorizing Haiti’s impoverished population.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the U.S. State Department has advised Americans to avoid travel to Haiti and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave. The State Department also cited the frequent targeting of U.S. citizens in kidnappings as a reason for the travel advisory.
The Kenyan Foreign Ministry has offered 1,000 police officers to assist the Haitian National Police in restoring order and protecting strategic installations in the country.
Protesters, mainly from the area surrounding El Roi Haiti’s campus, which includes a medical clinic and a school, have called for an end to the violence and the release of Alix Dorsainvil. They marched through the streets, holding signs written in Creole demanding her freedom.
The kidnapping of Alix Dorsainvil has raised concerns about the future of El Roi Haiti’s programs. If the organization is forced to close due to the violence, the community will lose access to vital services. The State Department has not provided further details about the ongoing investigation or the demands made by the kidnappers.
Alix Dorsainvil, who fell in love with Haiti’s people after visiting the country following the 2010 earthquake, has been described as a compassionate nurse dedicated to helping others. Her father, Steven Comeau, declined to comment on the situation.
El Roi Haiti has called for prayers for the safety and freedom of Alix and her daughter, as well as for the people of Haiti who continue to suffer from the violence and instability in the country.
AP journalists Megan Janetsky in Mexico City and Pierre Richard Luxama in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.
What measures are being taken by the international community to support Haiti and address the root causes of violence following the heartbreaking kidnapping of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter
He heartbreaking scene: ”They came in guns blazing, yelling and shouting. They dragged her out and took her daughter too. We were helpless.”
The situation in Haiti has become so dangerous that the U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory, urging Americans to avoid travel to the country due to the widespread kidnappings that regularly target U.S. citizens. The department has also ordered nonemergency personnel to leave Haiti.
In response to the crisis, the Foreign Ministry of Kenya has offered 1,000 police officers to help train and assist the Haitian National Police in restoring normalcy and protecting strategic installations. This international support is crucial as Haiti struggles to combat the escalating violence.
The safety and security of American citizens overseas is a top priority for the U.S. government. The State Department is actively engaged with Haitian authorities and working with interagency partners to address the situation. However, due to the ongoing law enforcement investigation, specific details cannot be provided at this time.
The kidnapping of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter is a tragic reminder of the violence and instability that continues to plague Haiti. The Haitian community, both locally and internationally, is rallying together to demand an end to the violence and the safe return of Dorsainvil and her daughter.
In the face of this deeply troubling situation, it is crucial that the international community comes together to support the people of Haiti and work towards a peaceful and prosperous future for the nation. Nonprofit organizations like El Roi Haiti are vital in providing essential services to vulnerable communities, and it is imperative that they receive the support necessary to continue their work.
The kidnapping of Alix Dorsainvil highlights the urgent need for increased security measures and efforts to address the root causes of the violence in Haiti. It is a call to action for governments and organizations to work together to create a safer, more stable environment for the people of Haiti. Until then, the community will continue to fight for justice and the safe return of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter.
