Haiti: An Irish missionary known for her tireless work with vulnerable children in Haiti is among nine individuals, including a three-year-old child, abducted by armed assailants in a shocking attack on a renowned orphanage near the Haitian capital.
Gena Heraty, who has been serving in Haiti since 1993, was kidnapped alongside seven staff members and a toddler from the St. Helene Orphanage, a sanctuary that has long been a symbol of hope for over 200 disadvantaged children. The abduction took place on Sunday after gunmen breached the compound’s outer wall in what officials described as a “calculated and premeditated strike.”
Heraty, deeply respected across Haiti and Ireland, had repeatedly acknowledged the risks involved in her mission. Yet, she remained unwavering in her commitment, once saying, “The children are why I'm still here. I've no intention whatsoever of leaving, because we're all in this together.”
The attack is the latest in a series of high-profile kidnappings that underline the intensifying lawlessness in Haiti, where violent gangs control over 80% of Port-au-Prince. Criminal groups frequently target humanitarian workers and civilians for ransom, funneling the proceeds into arms and power consolidation. The United Nations has described the security situation as “catastrophic.”
Despite mounting international concern, efforts to stabilize the country remain limited. Several Caribbean nations have deployed police personnel to assist local security forces, but there has been no commitment from global powers to send peacekeeping troops.
Haiti’s political future hangs in the balance. Plans for presidential elections have stalled indefinitely, as widespread violence and institutional collapse continue to paralyze the nation.
Meanwhile, the fate of Gena Heraty and her companions remains unknown, with diplomatic and humanitarian channels working urgently behind the scenes. Their abduction is not just a personal tragedy it is a grim reminder of a nation crying out for peace, protection, and global solidarity.