US Nurse and Child Freed by Kidnappers in Haiti

Alix Dorsainvil, a US nurse, and her child have been released by kidnappers in Haiti, according to a statement from the Christian non-profit organization El Roi. Ms. Dorsainvil, who is married to Sandro Dorsainvil, the founding director of El Roi, was abducted along with her daughter. The organization had been collaborating with authorities and partners to secure their safe release.

The mother and daughter are believed to have regained their freedom on Tuesday night. Alix Dorsainvil, originally from New Hampshire, first visited Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake and has been working as a school and community nurse since 2020. El Roi described her as a compassionate individual deeply committed to the well-being of the Haitian people.

Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in poverty in Port-au-Prince, has a history of helping his community. He graduated from a high school in Montana in 2014 and, according to an alumni newsletter, married Alix in Haiti in January 2021. The couple had adopted a boy and were raising two girls.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been grappling with political turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Gangs have gained control over a significant portion of the capital, and incidents of violent crimes, including kidnappings and armed robberies, have become distressingly common.

Statistics from the United Nations reveal that between January and June of this year, Haiti experienced a staggering 1,014 kidnappings. The nation’s challenges extend beyond security concerns, as it also faces widespread poverty and political instability.