American woman Alix Dorsainvil and her young child have been freed and are safe after being kidnapped in Haiti roughly two weeks ago, according to a statement from El Roi Haiti, the nonprofit where she worked.
“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,” El Roi Haiti said in a statement Wednesday.
Dorsainvil and her young daughter were taken from the El Roi compound outside of Port-au-Prince on July 27 and had been held since then. Negotiations to free her started shortly after she was taken, according to a Haitian law enforcement source.
Dorsainvil — originally from New Hampshire — has been living and working in Haiti “for some time now,” El Roi Haiti confirmed to ABC News. She works as a school and community nurse for the religious organization and is married to its director, with whom she shares the child, according to El Roi Haiti.
The kidnapping came as the U.S. Department of State ordered the evacuation of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees in Haiti on July 27. The U.S. government’s travel advisory for Haiti is “do not travel due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure,” according to the State Department.
In this undated photo provided by El Roi Haiti, Alix Dorsainvil, right, poses with her husband, Sandro Dorsainvil. Alix Dorsainvil, a nurse for El Roi Haiti, and her daughter were kidnapped on Thursday, July 27, the organization said.
Courtesy of El Roi Haiti via AP
“Kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities, and even convoys have been attacked. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings. Victim’s families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members,” the State Department said in its advisory.
The Department of State also warned that violent crimes, including kidnappings for ransom that include U.S. citizens, are “common.”
“Travelers are sometimes followed and violently attacked and robbed shortly after leaving the Port-au-Prince international airport. Robbers and carjackers also attack private vehicles stuck in heavy traffic congestion and often target lone drivers, particularly women,” it said.
“U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and only do so when considered safe,” it continued.
ABC News’ Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
Source: abc news
