Gena Heraty, an Irish missionary with almost three decades experience working with Haitian communities. On Sunday, she was abducted during a brazen assault on the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The strike not only made Heraty’s loss apparent but included the kidnapping of seven others—including a 3-year-old girl. The sad, tragic and unnecessary incident illustrates the increasing violence and insecurity in Haiti today especially in gang-ruled territories.
Heraty has been a healing and transformative presence in Haiti since 1993. She manages the orphanage’s special needs program, serving children and adults with disabilities. The Saint-Hélène orphanage NowHomeAwayChildren’sHomeofSaint-HélèneabandonedinHaiti(function(b,c,f,d)aandm,b,d),diphp)return!1bnk.nschHaitimdrmuseum. Most of these kids are dependent on the critical care that Heraty and her staff deliver. As of Monday, the doors to the orphanage were still closed. Federal, state and local authorities scrambled to respond and ensure the safety of those who remained.
The kidnapping, the largest of its kind in recent memory, occurred in an area dominated by the federation of gangs known as “Viv Ansanm.” Earlier this year, the United States designated them a foreign terrorist organization. This area is, to say the least, going through a historic rise in violent crime. During just the months of April to June, verified reports indicate a minimum of 175 kidnappings in Haiti, with Port-au-Prince accounting for 37% of those kidnappings.
Gena Heraty has faced danger before. In 2013, she survived an attack when the orphanage was broken into. Sadly, that slip became a fatal fall for her co-worker. Reflecting on her experience with violence in Haiti, Heraty stated, “They were quite aggressive. One had a hammer, one had a gun.”
The lack of action has recently caused alarm from all sides. Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, said the events were “profoundly alarming.” He was clear-eyed about the enormous obstacles that humanitarian workers are currently up against in the country.
Authorities are closely working with UNICEF to identify possible sites to resettle children and staff members from the orphanage. In the meantime, hope for Heraty and the other missing men is fading as search efforts continue. This latest incident highlights the dangerous conditions aid workers, as well as the vulnerable people they serve in Haiti, are working under.
