An American nurse, Alix Dorsainvil, who is employed by a Christian humanitarian organization, and her child were seized in a kidnapping incident on Thursday morning in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Dorsainvil, a New Hampshire native, relocated to Haiti at her husband’s invitation to offer nursing services to local children.
Her husband, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince, is the director of the organization where she works, known as El Roi Haiti.
El Roi Haiti runs a comprehensive K-12 school for Haitian children, supplemented by adult education and vocational training programs.
“Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family. Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus,” a statement from the organization read.
The US State Department confirmed on Saturday that they were aware of the abduction, actively collaborating with Haitian officials, and coordinating with other U.S. government agencies. In a statement, the department emphasized that the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas is their foremost priority.
The kidnapping occurred on the same day the State Department directed non-emergency U.S. government staff and their families to leave Haiti due to rising kidnapping incidents, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
According to a recent United Nations report, gang activity has significantly increased in Port-au-Prince, leading to a surge in crime rates and the displacement of over 165,000 individuals. This surge in criminal activity has also obstructed the aid initiatives undertaken by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).