Irish Missionary Among Nine Kidnapped from Haiti Orphanage Amid Rising Gang Violence

In a disturbing escalation of Haiti’s ongoing security crisis, nine people, including an Irish missionary and a three-year-old child, were kidnapped from an orphanage in Kenscoff, near the capital, Port-au-Prince. The abduction occurred in the early hours of Sunday, when armed men broke through the perimeter wall of the Sainte-Hélène orphanage without firing a single shot.

Among those abducted was Gena Heraty, an Irish aid worker who has spent over 30 years caring for vulnerable children in Haiti. Heraty is a key member of Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters), a Catholic organization that runs the orphanage. The facility provides shelter and care for approximately 270 children, many of whom have disabilities. Alongside Heraty and a toddler, seven Haitian staff members were also taken.

The Irish government swiftly responded, with Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin condemning the incident and stating that “every effort is being made” to ensure the victims’ safe release. The Irish embassy in Mexico, along with consular staff in Haiti, is working in coordination with local authorities and Heraty’s family.

No ransom demands have been reported as of now, though Heraty did manage to make a brief phone call confirming she was among those held captive.

The kidnapping is believed to be the work of one of the violent gangs operating in the region. Kenscoff, once considered relatively safe, has recently come under the growing influence of the gang alliance Viv Ansanm, which has been classified as a terrorist group by the United States. Gang-related violence has surged in Haiti, with over 3,100 people killed in the first half of 2025 alone, and more than 175 kidnappings recorded between April and June.

This latest incident underscores the deepening humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, where gangs operate with near-total impunity and foreign aid workers, including long-time residents like Heraty, are increasingly targeted.

In far eastern Russia, a volcano has erupted for the first time in over 500 years, and experts suggest it could be connected to the significant earthquake that occurred last week.

The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka ejected an ash plume reaching six kilometres (3.7 miles) high during the night. Russia’s emergency ministry stated that populated areas are not under threat.

Several hours later, a significant earthquake struck Russia, triggering tsunami alerts in three regions of the peninsula.