Traumatized Children Being Adopted out of Haiti

A serious and devastating earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude struck the country of Haiti January 12, 2010. Thousands have died and millions are now homeless with little food and water to survive on. Supplies and health care equipment are limited as well, making treatment very tough. With so many lives taken, people injured, and homes destroyed times in Haiti are hard. This brings up some thought on all the children that have lost parents and other family members. Where are these children suppose to go?

Some children are fortunate enough to have been taken to the United States to await adoption. Orphanages and group homes are taking children in, supplying them with food, water and all the care they need. Still thousands are back in Haiti living on the streets, living day to day on what they can find to survive. A sad issue that arises with all these children is that there were thousands of orphan children before the quake hit.

Eindhoven, Netherlands had 106 children arrive at the military airport with families waiting to pick up their newly adopted children. Also, earlier in the week 53 orphans arrived in the U.S. and were given medical care and then placed in group homes until adoptions are finalized. They had been in the process of adopting for months, but since the quake it seems that the process is speeding up. The children that arrived were between the ages of 6 months and 7 years. Of all these children, 9 have been approved for adoption but still await a matched family. These young kids will be placed in foster care until new families are found.

At this time it seems that there is a bigger need for adoption that ever before. With all the ruckus in Haiti, and what seems like not enough help, there is limited help for the children. I feel that finding homes, orphanages, group homes and so on is very need at this time. One issue crosses mind when looking at this however, and that is 'what if some of their family members are still alive'. How are these children going to be reunited with their families after all the devastation? For now though, this seems like one of the least issues to worry about.

The media is taking chances and risks by going to Haiti. Many photographs have been posted for the world to see. On many sites, pictures of the deceased lay in piles of rubble. I am very skeptical on the intentions the media has and is trying to display. While many are photographing they might be of more use by trying to get water, food, and shelter to the people instead of walking around trying to capture the moment. On the other had, displaying these pictures really brings a sense of what is really going on because of this disaster. For me, if it had not been for the pictures and news stories done on the quake, I would have no idea how bad it really is there. sometimes words can only describe so much, but pictures bring out the real devastation.

I feel it is time for us all to step up and help the men, women, and children of Haiti. Do whatever we can to support the people that are helping the country. Many charities and funds are being set up and for the people that cannot go there to help, have a choice to help from their homes. If possible, try to donate something to them. A dollar each in a group of a million people, is another million put forward to help take care of the sick and wounded and also to rebuild the houses to many.