The family is “destroyed” after the kidnapping of a woman in Haiti

The family of an Irish woman who was kidnapped from an orphanage in Haiti said that she was “completely devastating” and described the situation as “very worrying.”

Gina Hirati, the director of the facility, was Among the many people who were taken from the orphanage in the Saint-Hélène in Kenscoff, near the capital of Haiti, Port or Prince, on Sunday morningAccording to the President of Mayor Massylon Jean.

The location of its existence is unknown because, with seven employees and a child, it was taken from the orphanage, which is interested in more than 250 children.

The Irish government said that there are intense efforts to secure its release.

Mrs. Hirati, who is originally from Westport in May Province, supervises the orphanage, run by the Humanitarian Organization NOS Peetits Frères Et Sœurs (our brothers and our young sisters-NPFS), in the municipality of Kenscoff, about 10 kilometers southeast of the capital, Port-Park.

Mayor Masselon Jean, who described him as a “planned verb”, said:

Jean said that the attackers had penetrated a wall to enter the property, before heading to the building where Mrs. Hirati was staying.

It is believed that the gang members are responsible for the attack, according to the Haiti Lu Nevilist newspaper.

In a statement, the family of Mrs. Hirati said it was “completely devastating”, describing the situation as “very sophisticated and disturbing.”

“We are working closely with NPFs (NOS Petits Frères Et Sœurs) in Haiti and Ireland, the Irish government, and international partners who do everything in his power to ensure the safe and immediate release of Gina and its colleagues.

“In respect of the ongoing efforts and the safety of Gina, we are not in a position that allows us to share more details at this time.”

Tanist (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Harris held talks overnight with his Haiti counterpart on kidnapping.

“Everything is done to ensure the launch of Gina and the other hostages.”

Gang and kidnapping are also common in other areas of Port-UU-PRINCE around and around, as the United Nations says armed groups control about 85 % of the city.

In the first half of 2025, UN numbers show that nearly 350 people were kidnapped in Haiti. The United Nations Office for Human Rights said at least 3,141 people were killed in the same period.

NPH International, a charitable institution that works with orphaned children, attackers and weak in Latin America and the Caribbean Sea region, also called for the hostage and said that she is doing everything they can to help returning them home safely.

Tommy Marin, who is submitted on the Middle West Radio in May Province, described it as “emotional, self -denial and flexibility” and said that she was considered in May District “a living saint.”

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

Yesterday evening, in a small diocese church in Kushlo, where she grew up, the parish priest said that all people can do now is prayer and we hope that this will have a positive result.

“Gina’s family is very amazing and destructive.”

Harold Ishaq, a journalist in Port or Prince, said, said BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster On Tuesday, “negotiations are continuing through the various persons concerned to try to secure their launch.”

“About 80 to 90 % of the capital, Port or Prince, is subject to some forms of gangs,” he said.

“It has been a continuous situation of the entire urban area over the past few years, but it has exacerbated in the past few months, as the authorities are struggling to regain control of the situation.

“The neighborhood in which the orphanage was located was under gang attack over the past six months, and this attack is just a reminder, really, about the fragility of the situation.”