4 days ago
'Intensive' efforts to secure Irish woman's release in Haiti
Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of Irish woman Gena Heraty, who was abducted along with seven others and a child from an orphanage in Haiti.
Ms Heraty, a native of Westport in Co Mayo, who is in her mid-50s, oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 10km southeast of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The facility is operated by the humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs ("Our Little Brothers and Sisters").
Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean said Ms Heraty was among seven staff, as well as a three-year-old child, taken in the incident.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said "intensive" efforts aimed at achieving Ms Haraty's release are ongoing.
Mr Harris said he held talks overnight with his Haitian counterpart about the abduction.
In a statement, the Tánaiste said he asked Haiti's Foreign Minister Harvel Jean-Baptiste "that everything is done to ensure the release of Gena and the other hostages".
Mr Harris said Mr Jean-Baptiste had "assured me of his support in our work to ensure the safe release of Gena, and all the hostages, who have gone through the most horrendous of ordeals".
"We have agreed to stay in touch about the case, which remains extremely sensitive," he said.
The Tánaiste previously said work is being undertaken "by our teams in Dublin, Washington and London" to secure the release of the Irish woman.
"My officials in the Department of Foreign of Affairs are in constant contact with the Heraty family," he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday it was aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.
'Under assessment'
Ms Heraty's family said they are "devastated" by the incident.
They said yesterday the the situation is "evolving" and "deeply worrying", adding that they are working closely with Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Little Brothers and Sisters) in Haiti and in Ireland, and the Irish Government to ensure the safe release of those taken.
NPH International called for the release of those abducted by the gang, adding it is "doing all we can to help bring them home safely".
It said the incident "remains under assessment".
NPH said Ms Heraty serves as the Director of the NPH Haiti Special Needs Programmes, and has been supporting NPH and the most vulnerable populations in Haiti since 1993.
Ms Heraty is the latest foreign missionary to become the victim of kidnapping in Haiti.
In April 2021, two French priests were among ten people kidnapped in Croix des Bouquets before they were released nearly three weeks later.
The same group behind that kidnapping, the "400 Mawazo" gang, took a group of 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage six months later.
Since the start of this year, Kenscoff has found itself in the crosshairs of the Viv Ansanm (Living Together) gang, which has already taken control of several other localities.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 3,141 people have been killed in Haiti in the first half of this year, where the growing impact of gang violence threatens to further destabilize the nation.
