The streets outside an aid facility in Haiti’s capital resounded with chants of “freedom” on Monday. This came in response to the recent kidnapping of an American nurse and her daughter by armed men. The abduction of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter has become a poignant symbol of the escalating violence plaguing Haiti. Alix, who hails from New Hampshire, was working as a community nurse for the religious and humanitarian aid group El Roi Haiti when the incident occurred. It’s worth noting that she is the wife of the organization’s founder, Sandro Dorsainvil.
According to members of the community, the unidentified kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $1 million. Sadly, this has become a common practice among the gangs operating in Haiti. The State Department has not disclosed whether any demands have been made by the abductors. Shockingly, the local nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights reveals that hundreds of people have been kidnapped in Haiti this year alone. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, the violence has reached alarming levels in Port-au-Prince. Gangs have taken control of the city and have unleashed a wave of terror, including murder, rape, and other violent acts, exacerbating the suffering in communities that were already grappling with extreme poverty. The escalating violence has angered Haitians who yearn for peace.
The protesters, mainly from the vicinity of El Roi Haiti’s campus, which comprises a medical clinic, a school, and more, echoed these sentiments as they marched through the sweltering streets, holding up cardboard signs painted in red Creole text. One sign read, “She is doing good work in the community, free her.” Among the protesters was Jean Ronald, a resident who attested to the significant benefits his community has derived from the services provided by El Roi Haiti. Such aid groups often represent the only institutions in areas that are neglected by the law and governance. However, due to the deepening violence, many of these organizations have had to shut down, leaving thousands of families without access to essential services like healthcare and education. Ronald expressed concern, stating, “If they leave, everything will shut down. We don’t have the money they are asking for.”
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