The “devastated” family after a woman abducted in Haiti

The family of an Irish woman, abducted by an orphanage in Haiti, said they were “absolutely devastated” and described the situation as “deeply disturbing”.

Gena Herati, director of the facility, was Among a few people taken from the private orphanage Sainte-Hélène in Kencof, near the capital of Haiti, Port-O-Pronance, on Sunday morningAccording to the mayor Masilon Jean.

Her location is unknown, as she, along with seven employees and a child, are taken from the orphanage, which takes care of more than 250 children.

There are intense efforts to secure their release, the Irish government said.

Mrs. Herati, who was originally from Westport in Mayo County, led the orphanage, which is led by the Humanitarian Organization No. Petits Frères et Squers (our little brothers and sisters-NPFS), in the Kencof municipality, about 10 km south-east.

The attackers invaded the orphanage around 3:30 pm local time (07:30 GMT) “without opening fire,” said Mayor Masilo Jean, describing him as a “planned act”.

The attackers had broken through a wall to enter the property, Jean said before heading to the building where he was staying.

Members are believed to be responsible for the attack, the Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste said.

In a statement, the family of Gja Herates said they were “absolutely devastated”, describing the situation as “developing and deeply disturbing”.

“We are working closely with NPFS (NOS Petits FRères et Sœurs) in Haiti and Ireland, the Irish government and international partners who are doing everything they can to ensure the safe and immediate release of the gene and its colleagues.

“Out of respect for the ongoing efforts and for the safety of the gene, we are not able to share more details at the moment,” the family statement said.

Tanaist (Irish Deputy Minister -President) and Foreign Minister Simon Harris has been talking overnight with his Haitian counterpart regarding the abduction.

Mr Harris said he asked Haiti Foreign Minister Harvel Jean-Baptist, “that everything has been done to ensure the release of the gene and other hostages.”

The gang’s violence and abductions are also common in other areas in and around Port-Pre-Prince, where the UN says armed groups control about 85% of the city.

In the first half of 2025, the UN figures show that almost 350 people were abducted in Haiti. At least 3141 people were also killed during the same period, the UN Human Rights Service reported.

Nph International, a charity that works for orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children in Latin America and the Caribbean, also called for the hostage to be released and said he was doing everything he can to help them bring them back to home.

Tommy Marron, who is a radio leader in the Midwest in Mayo County, knows that Gena Herati described her as “passionate, selfless and sustainable” and said she was considered in Mayo County as a “living saint”.

“She is a dedicated and loyal person who takes care of some of the most vulnerable in society,” he said.

“Last night, at a small parish church in Kushlu, where she grew up, the parish priest said that all people can do now is to pray and hope that this will have a positive result.

“The gene of the gene is absolutely distracted and devastated.”

Harold Isaac, who is a journalist in Port-O-Prince, said The BBC Radio Ulster Good Morning Program On Tuesday, “negotiations continue through different people to try to secure their release.”

“About 80 to 90% of the capital, Port-O-Prem, is in some form of band control,” he said.

“This is a continuing situation for the whole metropolitan area in the last few years, but in the last few months it has deteriorated as authorities have been struggling to regain control of the situation.

“The neighborhood where the orphanage is located has been under the attack of bands in the last six months, and this attack is just a reminder, really how fragile the situation is.”