US Citizen and Child Kidnapped in Haiti: Faith-Based Organization

People walk past a street market in Port-au-Prince on June 28, 2023. Richard Pierrin/AFP via Getty Images

An American woman and her child have been kidnapped in Haiti, a faith-based humanitarian organization announced on July 29.

Alix Dorsainvil, from New Hampshire, and her child were kidnapped on the morning of July 27 near Port-Au-Prince in the Caribbean country, the Christian aid organization El Roi Haiti said in a statement.

Ms. Dorsainvil is the wife of the director of El Roi Haiti, an organization that seeks to “raise up Haitian leaders who will strengthen families, restore relationships, and build healthy communities that function according to God’s design and purpose,” according to the group’s website.

El Roi Haiti said Ms. Dorsainvil and her child were kidnapped from the organization’s campus while she was working as a school and community nurse, serving in its community ministry.

“Our team at El Roi Haiti is grateful for the outpouring of prayers, care, and support for our colleague. We continue to work with our partners and trusted relationships to secure their safe return,” the statement reads.

“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,” the statement continued.

US Tells Americans to Leave Haiti

July 27—the day of the kidnapping—coincided with a warning issued by the U.S. State Department to citizens telling them to leave Haiti immediately due to the recent surge in armed clashes between gangs and police, as well as “kidnapping, crime ... and poor health care infrastructure.”

“On July 27, 2023, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees,” the advisory said.

A United Nations report in June said that gangs have taken over a large portion of Port-Au-Prince, fueling crime and violence.

“Gang attacks, extrajudicial killings, kidnappings and gender-based violence have become part of the daily lives of Haitians, forcing locals to flee their homes,” the United Nations said in its report.

“More than 165,000 people are internally displaced in Haiti due to gang violence ... The country is facing additional pressure due to severe floods caused by torrential rains, affecting over 46,000 people and displacing over 13,000 others, and a 4.9 Richter earthquake on 6 June, further compounding the humanitarian situation,” the report said.

The State Department advisory told U.S. citizens in Haiti on July 27 to “depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.”

U.S. citizens in the capital Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and depart only when it is safe to do so, the warning said.

Travelers have reported being followed and violently attacked shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport, while private vehicles stuck in heavy traffic congestion have been targeted by robbers and carjackers.

The situation has become so concerning that the U.S. Embassy in Haiti now mandates its personnel to use official transportation to and from the airport to mitigate risks.

Kidnappings have also become widespread in Haiti. Kidnappers often use sophisticated measures or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, even attacking convoys.

“Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings,” the advisory reads. “Victim’s families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.”

Caden Pearson contributed to this report.