When the devastating earthquake hit the Sichuan province of China in May 2008, officials estimated that over 5,000 children had been orphaned. Now, months later, the number has dropped to just over 500, and of those, just 88 are eligible for adoption as most others were taken in by relatives.

"The plight of the children featured strongly in both Chinese and international coverage of the earthquake, as it has done in previous disasters. Initial estimates said that 5,500 children had dead or missing parents, and phone lines in Sichuan provincial offices dealing with them were jammed with calls from would-be carers."

To date, just one child who was caught in the earthquake - Zhong Andi - has been adopted. Though he was living with his grandparents, they agreed to the adoption, believing it would give Andi a chance for a better life. Source: Telegraph (UK)

Labels: orphans, orphanages, China

Posted By: Aspen Education Group