U.S. nurse and child safely released after kidnapping in Haiti

A U.S. nurse and her child were safely released after they were kidnapped in Haiti two weeks ago, the Christian humanitarian organization the woman worked for announced on Wednesday. 

Alix Dorsainvil and her young daughter were abducted while serving in their community ministry at the El Roi Hati’s campus near the capital city of Port-au-Prince on July 27. She was working in the clinic when armed men broke in and took the two.

"It is with a heart of gratitude and immense joy that we at El Roi Haiti confirm the safe release of our staff member and friend, Alix Dorsainvil, and her child who were held hostage in Port au Prince,” humanitarian aid organization El Roi Haiti said in a statement after their release. 

"We are so thankful for everyone who joined us in prayer and supported us during this crisis," the statement continued. 

The organization did not disclose how the two were released or if they plan to remain in Haiti after the incident. 

The U.S. State Department welcomed the release of the American citizens but declined to comment further on the matter due to privacy concerns.

"As you can imagine, these individuals have been through a very difficult ordeal, both physically and mentally," the spokesperson said in a statement. 

"We express our deepest appreciation to our Haitian, and U.S. interagency partners for their assistance in facilitating their safe release," the spokesperson added. 

There have been at least 389 kidnappings reported in Haiti during the first three months of 2023, three times more than those reported in the previous quarter, according to the human rights group CRDH. 

Kidnappings in Haiti have increased along with gang violence since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021. In many cases, women and children are taken by the gangs and then ask for ransom in exchange for their release, according to the U.N.’s Children’s Agency, UNICEF.