Poinbank:American nurse, daughter kidnapped in Haiti; US issues safety warning

An American nurse with a Christian humanitarian aid organization in Haiti and Poinbankher young daughter have been kidnapped outside Port-au-Prince amid a deteriorating security situation, the aid agency El Roi Haiti said.

The U.S. State Department has issued an advisory telling Americans not to travel to Haiti, the hemisphere's poorest nation because of "kidnapping, crime, civil unrest and poor health care infrastructure.''

El Roi said in a statement Saturday that it was working with "our partners and trusted relationships" to secure the hostages' safe return. Alix Dorsainvil, the wife of El Roi director Sandro Dorsainvil, and their child were taken Thursday morning while serving in community ministry, the statement said.

It described Alix as 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.'' 

Developments:

◾ The U.S. government has ordered nonessential government personnel out of Haiti.

◾ The National Human Rights Defense Network in Haiti recently issued a warning about the "inaction of state authorities in the wake of the country's deteriorating security situation." From May 1 to July 12 at least 40 people were abducted and 75 murdered along with several others who escaped assassination attempts, the agency warned.

◾ Armed gangs have taken over power in Haiti after the country's president was assassinated in 2021, and they control access to water, food and health care.

Haiti needs foreign troops to help with a gang-related crisis, the top U.S. diplomat said in a trip to the region

Who is Alix Dorsainvil?

Alix Dorsainvil, 31, says in a video on the agency's website that she is a nurse from New Hampshire who moved to Haiti to provide nursing care for the children. She says she has a makeshift clinic at the school.

"Haitians are such a resilient people," she says in the video. "They are full of joy and life and love. And I am so blessed to be able to know so many amazing Haitians."

WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, said she attended Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, which has a program to support nursing education in Haiti.

“It doesn’t surprise me that Alix chose to get involved in this type of service work,” Regis College president Toni Hays told the station. “She was amazing. She was passionate, she was compassionate.”

State Department evacuates families of embassy workers

The State Department said it was aware of the reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti. U.S. authorities are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and U.S. government interagency partners, the department said in an email to USA TODAY.

"Our embassies and consulates abroad have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the email said.

The department has ordered the evacuation of family members of U.S. government employees and nonemergency U.S. government employees.  

"U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges," the department said on its website. "U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and only do so when considered safe."

El Roi Haiti helps families in the community

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere by most metrics. Among its programs, El Roi Haiti sponsors a summer camp for about 400 people featuring Bible stories, worship music, scripture memorization, spelling bees, arts and crafts, games, English lessons and other activities. Parents are also invited to attend literacy classes while their children attend camp. A hot meal is provided for all campers and staff.