Eight people, including an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old child, are missing after armed men stormed a well-known orphanage near Haiti’s capital, according to authorities and aid officials.
The attack happened early Sunday at the Saint-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, an area now under gang control. The facility, which cares for more than 240 children, is run by the international charity Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs.
Among those kidnapped is Gena Heraty, an Irish national who has worked in Haiti for more than 30 years, focusing on children and adults with special needs. Heraty’s family said they were “absolutely devastated” and described the situation as “deeply worrying.”
Haitian authorities and UNICEF are now relocating children and staff to safer locations.
No group has claimed responsibility, but the area is reportedly controlled by the gang federation “Viv Ansanm,” which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization.
The kidnapping is the latest in a surge of abductions targeting aid workers and civilians. According to the United Nations, 175 people were kidnapped in Haiti between April and June, with nearly 40% of cases in Port-au-Prince.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister has called for the immediate release of Heraty and the others.
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Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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