US nurse and daughter freed two weeks after kidnapping in Haiti
A New Hampshire nurse working with the charitable organization El Roi International in Haiti and her daughter have been set free, the organization announced in a statement Wednesday, nearly two weeks after they were abducted from their campus outside of Port-au-Prince.
“It is with a heart of gratitude and immense joy that we at El Roi Haiti confirm the safe release of our staff member and friend, Alix Dorsainvil and her child who were held hostage in Port au Prince, Haiti,” the organization wrote in a post on their website. “Today we are praising God for answered prayer!”
Dorsainvil, 31, and her child were reportedly snatched from the El Roi campus outside of the nation’s capital on Thursday, July 27th.
Dorsainvil, the wife of El Roi’s founder Sandro Dorsainvil, is a New Hampshire native and graduated from Regis College in Massachusetts with a degree in nursing. She works as the community health nurse with El Roi, which includes a K-12 school and several ministry programs, according to the organization’s website.
The young nurse, the organization said after her kidnapping, is a “deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family.”
The Regis College president previously called Dorsainvil a very caring and talented student and noted it was unsurprising she’s dedicated her life to her mission in Haiti.
The day of the family’s kidnapping, the U.S. State Department updated their travel advisory for Haiti to “Do Not Travel” and evacuated non-emergency government workers and family members from the country, citing “regular” kidnappings of Americans among other dangers.
“We welcome reports of the release of two U.S. citizens from captivity in Haiti,” the State Department said Wednesday. “We have no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.”
Out of respect for their privacy, the department noted they would allow the family to “speak for themselves if and when they feel ready.”
The agency remarked on the “very difficult ordeal, both physically and mentally” and thanked Haitian and U.S. interagency partners for assisting in their release.
El Roi said it will continue to release information “as appropriate” on their website.
“There is still much to process and to heal from in this situation, so we are asking that no attempts be made to contact Alix or her family at this time,” El Roi wrote Wednesday. … “And again, thanks for all of the prayers and support through this incredibly difficult time.”
