For newly orphaned children wandering the streets of Haiti’s capital begging for food, new life sounds like a dream come true. But agencies trying to evacuate children whose parents died in last week’s earthquake have been criticised for bypassing proper adoption processes to rush them to families abroad.
Children’s advocacy groups warn against new procedures in the face of an emergency. They say disasters create a free-for-all in which thousands of children are airlifted to nations without their family background being properly checked. Aid groups worry about children whose parents or other relatives still may be alive.
Your thoughts? Is bypassing proper adoption processes the right thing to do?
January 25th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Every effort must be made to keep family with family. In times of trouble like this, perhaps airlifts are best on the understanding to all that it is on a temporary basis until all avenues to reunite have been exhausted, and that a DNA and photo data bank be established in order to assist reuniting families in future at both ends.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:30 am
My wife and I are from San José, Costa Rica. We are a profesional couple, and we don´t have any children already. So we are very interested about adopting a baby from Haiti, we know it can be a relief for any child who had lost his parents, and for us it will be the happiest thing in our life. If you can give us any help or light path, we really appreciate.
Roy Vargas
January 25th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I think we should foster these children here in Canada and then return them when Haiti is rebuilt. They will need their citizens then.