Adopting orphans is ‘premature’

IRELAND is to send a second shipment of supplies to Haiti where shelter for thousands of homeless is now a major problem.

But people thinking of fostering or adopting one of the many children left orphaned by the earthquake should hold off just yet, EU development ministers advised.

The 40 tonnes of Irish humanitarian supplies was announced by Overseas Development Minister Peter Power in Brussels following yesterday’s meeting, in addition to the 80 tonnes sent last week.

“The situation remains extremely grave and in a few weeks the rains will come, potentially creating a second humanitarian situation,” Power said.

Providing shelter for many of the three million affected by the quake was now very urgent given that the rainy season arrives in about six weeks’ time.

The Irish Aid technical team, due back in Ireland after spending five days in Haiti, identified tents and water supplies as being urgently needed.

“The total value of the government’s response, financially and in kind, is well over €3 million and there is every possibility that this figure will increase further once we have a clearer and more comprehensive picture of Haiti’s needs,” he said.

More specialists from the Rapid Response Corp are likely to be sent shortly to join the three members already there, he added.

Italy and the Netherlands have expedited adoptions by their citizens of Haiti children that were already agreed but the broader issue of adopting those orphaned by the earthquake is a more sensitive issue.

Power said many people contacted the department in the aftermath of the catastrophe interested in adopting children.

“But it’s not really the issue at this stage. In the first instance we need to support children in Haiti. To support fostering or adoption would be premature,” he said.

The role of the US in the devastated country remains a contentious issue following reports that the US military was giving priority to flights from America.

Ministers of the EU, by far the biggest donor to Haiti even before the earthquake, plans to insist that the medium to longer term response will be coordinated by the UN.

“The EU, as the biggest donor, will have a bigger role in the reconstruction. It needs to be planned and coordinated and consensus is that it needs to be led by the UN,” Power said.