Charity: Foreign adoption of Haiti orphans must stop

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The latest group of children to leave the country are heading to France where they will adopted. They will follow 123 already sent to the Netherlands and 54 who arrived in the US earlier this week.

Thousands of children have been left orphaned since last week's earthquake, triggering a rush of enquiries from around the world about adopting a child from the island — which before the quake already had around 380,000 orphans in need of homes.

But charities have expressed concern, saying children whose parents are dead or unaccounted for should be reunited with their extended family and international adoption should only be
considered as a last resort.

In pictures: Haiti's quake orphans and homeless

Hannah Reichardt, an emergency adviser with Save the Children, said: "We would prefer for children at this stage to stay within their communities.

International adoption should not happen in this stage of an emergency when people are still being pulled out from he rubble. It is far too early."

Seven-year-old Kiki Joachin, who was trapped under rubble for eight days after his home collapsed, recalled the moment he was finally pulled free.

The boy, who was pictured with a broad grin as he was pulled from the ruins, said: "I smiled because I was free. I smiled because I was alive."

He was rescued with his sister Sabrina, 10. The pair's other three siblings Yeye, nine, Titite, three, and 18-month Didine were killed. Their four-year-old brother David survived because he was playing outside.

Kiki added: "I am sad for my brothers and sisters but happy with my mama. God helped me." His mother Odinel, 38, said: "When I saw them I collapsed in tears and hugged them. We were all laughing and crying."

Recalling the earthquake, she said: "The whole six-storey block fell flat in seconds. I was sure they were dead."

In pictures: Haiti's quake orphans and homeless

Haiti emergency appeal

Merlin is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. You can donate to the DEC Haiti appeal online at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 900.

For more information about Merlin's Haiti response please go to: www.merlin.org.uk or call 020 7014 1714.