War & Disaster

At times of war and natural disasters, we receive calls from parents wondering if it is possible to adopt orphans from these countries.

The simple answer is no and the reasons are:

• In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, it is often difficult to determine if a child is truly an orphan. Families become separated and it might take many months to find each other.

• Once it has been ascertained that a child is an orphan, it may take many more months to determine if there is any extended family who might be able to provide a home for the child

• Areas may be unsafe, making it dangerous for adoption workers and adoptive parents to travel to, or within, the country.

• Local governments are often fully occupied, providing aid and restoring basic services - the bodies that would ordinarily handle adoptions are often not available.