Adoptions are expedited as advocates around the globe work to help Haiti's orphans.
Prior to last week's earthquake, Haiti was already home to 380,000 orphans (according to the United Nations Children's Fund). While the new figure remains unknown, it only continues to grow as more children are in need of homes than ever before.
Advocacy groups around the globe are working frantically to expedite already in-progress adoptions, to send rescue workers to evacuate children and petitioning the government to grant special permission to enter the US.
According to the Associated Press, on Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced an emergency humanitarian program, that will allow Haitian orphans to enter the US temporarily on a case-by-case basis. Thanks to this policy, 53 children were flown into Pittsburgh early Tuesday, escorted by the state's governor Edward Rendell. He told CNN, "adoptions are already underway for 47 of the children: 40 to the US, four to Spain and three to Canada." But this was no small feat; 14 of those kids were missing paperwork, presumably lost in the rubble. Fortunately, Gov. Rendell and Rep. Jason Altmire refused to take no for an answer, and pushed until the US granted humanitarian parole for all 14 kids. By the time they did, however, the plane to Pennsylvania was already in transit. Altmire flew with the kids in a military cargo plane.
On a smaller scale, another promising story recently took place in Florida. Mindy and Oyvind Haehre began the process to adopt Dayana,7, and Moise, 5, back in 2008. The plan was to bring them home to Loveland, Colo. next month, but the earthquake moved things along. Dayana and Moise survived the earthquake (as did all the other children of the orphanage) and were flown to Fort Lauderdale to meet their new family, including siblings Silje and Jakob. The Haehres were able to spend their first days as a family enjoying the sun and sand. Nothing short of a miracle, considering what their fate may have been.
And, while much of this sounds like nothing more than red-tape disasters waiting to happen, it's not necessarily the worst thing that could happen. Children's safety is the number one priority right now. Groups such as The Joint Council on International Children's Services and UNICEF are on high alert to protect the rights of Haiti's youngest victims. While crisis like this can bring out the best in humanity, it can also lend itself to the worst. In a January 19th statement, UNICEF's Executive Director Ann Venemen said:
We are extremely concerned about the situation of children in Haiti, many of whom have become separated from their families and caregivers. These children face increased risks of malnutrition and disease, trafficking, sexual exploitation and serious emotional trauma. The race to provide them with life-saving emergency food and medicine, safe shelter, protection, and care is underway.This is only the beginning.
Stories like the one in Pittsburgh are developing around the world as you read this. On Wednesday a Dutch charter plane is scheduled to bring 109 children to the Netherlands. While it is likely too soon to start a new adoption, there's much to be done right now. To learn more or help create safe, positive futures for the children of Haiti check out these sites:
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