The devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti has prompted many good-hearted people to inquire about adopting children who were orphaned in the disaster. It also left many adoptions in limbo, as the Haitian government tried to sort itself out.

On Feb. 1, MSNBC ran a special feature aimed at addressing some of the more common concerns, such as the following question:

Are there any new adoptions being started for children who were already orphaned or children newly orphaned in Haiti?

Reputable adoption agencies would tell you that neither the State Department nor Haiti’s government are considering new adoption applications at this time. Their primary concern is the safety of children who may have been separated from surviving relatives and need time to be reunited with extended family.

Only adoptions that were already in process will be completed. Neither the U.S. State Department nor the Haitian government has publicly speculated about when new adoptions can be initiated.

Labels: haiti, international