A Torrance family who adopted a 2-year-old girl from Haiti received what appears to be bad news Wednesday. A representative from the Joint Council on International Children's Services, which acts as a go-between for the families, U.S. government and Haitian authorities, sent Janelle Benedict of Torrance an e-mail stating that the U.S. State Department won't be assisting in bringing home Lovely, the daughter she adopted last summer.
The e-mail states that representatives from orphanages in Haiti have been asked to escort children who qualify for "humanitarian" deportation to the U.S. Embassy, where they will be flown to America on cargo planes. Some of the children, however, have been turned away, and there is no food or water at the Embassy in case the children get stranded there. The e-mail, from Rebecca Harris of the joint council, also asks parents to stop contacting members of Congress for help.
In response, Benedict wrote that, in essence, that the U.S. Embassy does not respect the orphanage directors, and that there will no doubt be long lines of children in a chaotic and unsafe environment. "We are extremely disappointed at this development, and worry for Lovely's safety," she wrote.
In the meantime, another 6.1 earthquake struck the region early Wednesday, raising more fears about the safety of their daughter in Port-au-Prince. Benedict said they are still waiting to hear about the condition of Lovely and other children at her orphanage.
it is a shame that still suffering is so acceptable. The orphans with families waiting for them should be transported immediately to their new loved ones due to the unforseen circumstance of a natural disaster!! The U.S. should designate a special group dedicated to eliminating the red tape in these times of such immediate need!
were doing great over here but we have storms to.i bet you,ll have to survive all of them earthquakes.