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Find out moreForeign adoption not the answer for Haiti's children
“Foreign adoption is not the answer for Haiti’s children,” says Ian Wishart, chief executive of Plan International Australia. “However well-intentioned, removing vulnerable children from their communities will only increase their distress in a situation that is already very confusing and frightening for them.
“In the wake of a disaster it is difficult to determine the fate of the children’s parents. At this stage they cannot be assumed to be orphans and should not be made available for adoption.
“Even for children who have lost their parents, it is always best for them to remain with family members or within the communities that they are used to, where Plan and other agencies can support them.
“Plan has worked in Haiti for 37 years and fully understands the needs of the children and their communities in the country. It is this type of localised and expert support that children in Haiti need at a time like this.”
Staff from Plan International have been assessing the immediate needs of the population.
Plan has set up a number of child safe zones that are designed to give the youngest survivors of the earthquake a break from the relentless misery of life on their rubble-strewn streets.
Children are especially vulnerable after disasters of this magnitude; in Haiti one in five children suffers stunted growth due to poor nutrition, so they are particularly vulnerable.
Dr Unni Krishnan, Plan’s disaster response expert who has just conducted an assessment of children living in Croix des Bouquets (a suburb on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince), said the situation is dire.
He said: “Almost all the mothers told me that their children are waking up four to six times a night screaming
“Of course these are normal reactions to an abnormal situation but help must be given to these youngsters so they can work through these emotions.
“What is needed now is a comprehensive approach in which we place children at the centre. Psychosocial care and support and protection should be an organic and response is crucial.”
Dr Krishnan also warned against well-meaning Westerners offering to adopt children orphaned by the quake, insisting this was only a temporary solution to a much bigger problem.
“Removing children from their families and natural environment is actually harmful and is not acceptable,” he added.
“What governments, UN agencies and charities like ours need to do is make their natural environment, living conditions and future are better.
“It is vital that youngest survivors of this tragedy have access to food, clean water emergency health care, shelter and psycho-social support.Temporary schools are also likely to be needed in the medium-term.”
Globally Plan has so far raised $US6.6 million for the relief effort.
Donate to Plan’s Haiti Earthquake Appeal