On August 3, a harrowing incident unfolded at the Sainte Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, when nine individuals—including a 3-year-old child—were kidnapped by armed assailants. According to local news reports, the kidnappers infiltrated the facility without firing a single shot. The orphanage, situated just outside Port-au-Prince, is run by the humanitarian organization Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (“Our Little Brothers and Sisters”).
Among the abducted is Gena Heraty, an Irish citizen and longtime aid worker from Westport, Ireland. Heraty has lived and worked in Haiti since 1993 and serves as the orphanage director, overseeing care for up to 270 children. The Irish Independent highlights her decades of dedication to Haiti’s most vulnerable.
Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, responded to the news on August 4, calling the abductions “deeply distressing.” He emphasized Heraty’s commitment to Haiti’s children and urged for her swift release. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs is actively coordinating with the Heraty family, Haitian officials, and Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs leadership. Irish diplomats are engaged in efforts to secure the safe return of all nine hostages.
Kenscoff Mayor Jean Masillon described the kidnapping as a calculated operation. According to Masillon, the kidnappers entered the orphanage around 3:30 a.m. by breaking through a wall, heading straight to the director’s quarters before abducting the victims.
This event adds to the mounting security crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has surged dramatically. The United Nations reported over 3,100 killings in the country during the first half of 2025, with gangs extending their control into previously safe zones.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to bring the hostages home safely.
Photo Credit: Odelyn Joseph
