Charity Says: "Do Not Adopt Earthquake Orphans"

CAMBRIDGE, England, January 20 - The world's largest orphan charity, SOS Children, has urged
people to think twice about adopting Haiti earthquake orphans. Instead, the
charity says the best option is to provide a loving environment that is
culturally local where children can feel secure. They have also cautioned all
organisations working in Haiti against premature adoption decisions.

Andrew Cates, SOS Children CEO says: "When you see any child
who has lost their family on the news, your natural instinct is to want to go
and pick them up. Of course sometimes international adoption is the right
solution for a child, but far more often it is not. A child who has started
growing up in a community and lost their parents still has some inner
security from knowing their environment…in fact, sometimes parents are
found years later still mourning the child they thought was dead. SOS
Children has a well proven model for orphans based on family groups of about
ten children with a well-trained mother. About fifteen families live together
in one purpose built village and is a good solution for local children. We
provide a loving environment that is culturally local, with local language
and religion where children can feel secure."

The SOS Children international umbrella organisation, SOS Children's
Villages International, also called today for all emergency relief actors in
Haiti to put children first and work in accordance with the UN Guidelines for
the Alternative Care of Children.

"It is vital that a coordinated approach is taken by relief agencies in
Haiti to identify, register and document these children as quickly as
possible with a view to the earliest possible reunification with their
family. At this moment, the situation of most unaccompanied children cannot
be fully assessed on a reliable basis. SOS Children's Villages International
therefore cautions all organisations working in Haiti against taking
premature decisions on permanent care solutions (e.g. adoption) for them."

SOS Children, who has two Children's Villages in Haiti, is
preparing to provide a long-term home for children who have been orphaned by
the catastrophe. The first delivery of ten tonnes of food, water, medicine
and tents arrived earlier this week, and a second shipment arrived by air
today. Specialist psychologists and social workers were also sent from Costa
Rica and the Dominican Republic to help children cope with trauma and where
possible, reunite children separated from their families.

SOS Children has been working in Haiti since 1978 and provides
a family for life for children who have lost their parents through war,
famine, disease, natural disaster and poverty. Over 78,000 orphaned and
abandoned children are currently cared for by SOS mothers in clusters of
family homes in more than 500 of Children's Villages in 124 countries
worldwide. Thousands more children benefit from SOS Children's outreach
support which includes education, vocational training, medical care and
community development programmes.

To donate to our Haiti emergency appeal, please visit
www.soschildren.org or call +44(0)1223-365-589.

Notes for Editors:

    - SOS Children CEO Andrew Cates and Director of Development
      Kathie Neal, are available for comment.

    - If you would like to interview any of our field staff in
      Haiti please get in touch with Doris Kirchebner:
      doris.kirchebner@sos-kd.org

    - SOS Children will spend 100% of all funds generated by the
      appeal to helping children and families in Haiti, with absolutely no
      deductions for UK costs such as administration or fundraising

    - For more information, images and interview requests, please
     contact Elizabeth Rodgers, Press and Communications Manager, SOS
     Children, elizabeth@soschildren.org or +44(0)1223-365-589

For more information, images and interview requests, please contact Elizabeth Rodgers, Press and Communications Manager, SOS Children, elizabeth at soschildren.org or +44(0)1223-365-589