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CMC file photo of Alix Dorsainvil.
CMC – The US-based Christian aid group, El Roi Haiti, Wednesday confirmed that an American nurse and her child kidnapped in Haiti on July 27, have been released.
“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,” El Roi leaders said in a blog posted on their website.
“We are so thankful for everyone who joined us in prayer and supported us during this crisis,” they added in a statement.
The statement gave no indication as to whether or not a ransom had been paid for releasing the pair.
Dorsainvil was living in Haiti with her husband Sandro, who is the director of El Roi Haiti. She was working as a nurse at the organization’s school when she and her daughter were kidnapped on July 27.
El Roi Haiti said it would “continue to release information as appropriate on our website” regarding the release of the nurse.
The US State Department welcomed the reports of the release of the couple but declined to provide any information on the circumstances or their condition.
“As you can imagine, these individuals have been through a very difficult ordeal, both physically and mentally. We express our deepest appreciation to our Haitian, and U.S. interagency partners for their assistance in facilitating their safe release,” a State Department spokesman said in a statement.
Earlier this week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said persistent violence in Haiti remains a significant concern for the safety and welfare of its most vulnerable citizens, especially women and children, citing reports of an “alarming spike” in kidnapping and other crimes.
According to UNICEF, nearly 300 confirmed cases were reported in the first six months of 2023, almost matching the total number documented over 2022 and close to three times the number in 2021.
“The stories we are hearing from UNICEF staff and partners on the ground are shocking and unacceptable,” said Gary Conille, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Last month, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the UN Security Council and major potential contribution countries to act fast to create the conditions for the deployment of multinational force to Haiti.
