Who Is Alix Dorsainvil? American Nurse and Her Child Kidnapped in Haiti

An American nurse and her child have been kidnapped in Haiti, according to the Christian humanitarian organization that employs her. A spokeperson for the Department of State said that it was working with local authorities to find the pair.

Alix Dorsainvil, originally from Middleton, New Hampshire, who works as a community nurse for El Roi Haiti, was taken on Thursday, the organization confirmed in a post on its website on Saturday. She is married to the group's founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, and the name and age of their child who was kidnapped was not disclosed.

Haiti has been embroiled in economic and political turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Gangs control about 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the BBC, which said violent crimes such as street kidnappings and armed robbery are common.

The non-profit group first broke the news that one of its workers had been kidnapped in a post on Friday, when it issued an "urgent prayer request," asking supporters to "pray and cry out to Jesus" to protect their colleague, who was taken the day before.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said: "We are aware of reports of the kidnapping of two U.S. citizens in Haiti. We are in regular contact with Haitian authorities and will continue to work with them and our U.S. government interagency partners." The State Department has "no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," the spokesperson added.

The kidnapping occurred on the same day that U.S. authorities issued the strongest, category 4 warning—a "do not travel" notice—to citizens considering traveling to Haiti. The U.S. State Department told Americans they shouldn't visit the country "due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure."

The warning was posted on July 27, after the U.S. had "ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees." American citizens were told they "should depart Haiti as soon as possible."

El Roi Haiti has asked reporters not to contact Alix Dorsainvil's family during this time. Her social media accounts are all fixed to private settings, and her age hasn't been reported.

But back in May 2021, the organization shared a photo of the nurse and Sandro Dorsainvil, with the words: "We are so thankful for this girl and for the way she loves people! You are a gem, Alix, and Jesus just SHINES through you! Happy birthday, girl!"

Other posts shared details about the group's outreach projects and the successes of their various initiatives, such as food programs, and summer camps for children.

The organization's online posts became suddenly somber, as it reported the kidnapping. On July 28, the group said: "Alix Dorsainvil, our Director's wife, and their child [who] were kidnapped[...] from our campus near Port au Prince while serving in our community ministry."

The group says it's working with "our partners and trusted relationships to secure their safe return."

It also paid tribute to her: "Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family. Alix has worked tirelessly as our school and community nurse to bring relief to those who are suffering as she loves and serves the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus."

In a video posted on El Roi Haiti's website in happier times, Alix Dorsainvil shared her story of how she was invited to work for the organization, and discussed her nursing duties. "Haitians are such resilient people, they're full of joy and life and love," she said.

It's not the first time Western aid workers have been targeted in Haiti. The Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) last summer said three of its missionaries, who had been kidnapped in Haiti, were released after an anonymous donor paid a ransom to the gang that took them. There were also a dozen other victims.

Americans have been kidnapped in other countries in the past, after becoming inadvertently trapped by violence and political turmoil. In March, four Americans—a woman and three men—were kidnapped by a Mexican cartel that mistook them for Haitian drug smugglers operating in the Mexican city of Matamoros. Two of the men were killed, and the other two were later rescued.

Update 8/1/2023 12:21 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include comment by a U.S. Department of State spokesperson.