Kidnapped aid worker and 7 others freed after 3 weeks in Haiti
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An Irish humanitarian aid worker and seven others were released following a three-week detention by Haitian gangs, further highlighting the collapsing social fabric.
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An undated photo of Gena Heraty while working at the Nos Petits Frères Et Soeurs charity. (NPH International)
Irish aid worker Gena Heraty and seven Haitian nationals, including a three-year-old child, have been released three weeks after being kidnapped in Haiti. The group was abducted on August 3 from the Our Little Brothers and Sisters orphanage located in Kenscoff, outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Heraty, a missionary who lived in Haiti for 32 years, was responsible for the care of around 270 children at the facility. Armed attackers reportedly stormed the orphanage around 3:30 a.m., breaking through a wall and abducting the director along with others.
The kidnapping is believed to have been carried out by members of Viv Ansanm (Live Together), a coalition that has contributed to the collapse of security in Port-au-Prince.
The Irish government welcomed the news of Heraty's release. In a statement, Tánaiste (Foreign Minister) Simon Harris said, “We warmly welcome the news that Gena and all of the Haitian nationals taken captive on August 3, including a small child, have been released and are reported to be safe and well.”
He praised Heraty as “a respected humanitarian and deeply courageous person who has dedicated her life to supporting the most vulnerable people in Haiti.”
Heraty's family also issued a statement expressing relief and gratitude: “We are so deeply grateful to everyone, in Haiti and internationally, who has worked tirelessly over these terrible weeks to help secure their safe return.”
I am delighted to confirm that Irish humanitarian worker, Gena Heraty has been released. This is the outcome we all hoped, prayed and worked for.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 29, 2025
My full statement: https://t.co/JjdInzcihI pic.twitter.com/38lKsNRAe9
Read more: Red Cross warns of imminent humanitarian collapse in Haiti
Gangs continue to terrorize Port-au-Prince
Haiti has faced escalating violence since February of last year, when armed gangs with political backing launched coordinated uprisings against the government. These groups now control most of Port-au-Prince, and the security crisis has pushed authorities to extreme measures, including using armed drones and hiring foreign mercenaries.
The deteriorating conditions have prompted multiple governments, including Ireland’s, to warn citizens against traveling to Haiti. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs highlights the "extremely volatile" situation, citing frequent clashes, kidnappings, and violent crime.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, cautioned on March 28 of this year that Haiti's security and humanitarian situation reached a critical point.
"The human rights situation in Haiti has reached yet another crisis point," Turk said, adding that violence and insecurity had "dramatically worsened."
"Gangs are killing ordinary people, brutally punishing those who defy their rules or are suspected of collaborating with the police or self-defense groups," Turk stated.
Read more: Erik Prince’s private army moves into Haiti, raising rights concerns
