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The Haitian government has halted the departure of all orphans from the earthquake-ravaged country until it can guarantee that only legitimate adoptions are being approved, according to U.S. government officials.

The government only will allow the departure of orphaned children whose paperwork it has examined and approved, the officials said.

The decision temporarily suspends the arrival to the U.S. of Haitian orphans under a policy announced last week by Washington. The so-called humanitarian parole was introduced to expedite the adoption of children in orphanages who had been assigned to U.S. families before the Jan. 12 earthquake occurred.

Countries: United States of America, Haiti

Senators push for more efficient Haiti adoptions

January 26, 2010 4:12 p.m. EST

Children play on a swing at the Maison de l'Espoir orphanage in Lilavois, Haiti, last week.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Lawmaker says new system would ease adoptions by U.S. families

Persons: Mary Landrieu

Countries: United States of America, Haiti

No EU plan foreseen to fast-track adoptions of Haiti children

Jan 25, 2010, 14:06 GMT

Brussels - The European Union would not launch a comprehensive plan to facilitate adoptions of child victims of the earthquake in Haiti, the European Commission said on Monday.

The idea was floated last week at an informal meeting of EU justice ministers in Spain, where Commissioner for Justice, Jacques Barrot, said the EU would look for a 'European framework' on the issue, in cooperation with UNICEF, the United Nations' fund for children.

But on Monday in Brussels, his spokesman Michele Cercone said 'a European framework for adoptions at this stage seems premature, and anyway the commission does not have any competence' to act.

Countries: Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Haiti

Organizations: European Commission

Persons: Jacques Barrot

Adoption agencies field calls about Haitian orphans

By Joel Allen

Monday, January 25, 2010 at 5:15 p.m.

Read more: Local, Adoption Agencies, Increased Interest, Adopting Haitian Children

Adoption agencies on the Grand Strand are reporting a huge increase in people interested in adopting Haitian children, but prospective parents are cautioned about the long and difficult process.

Organizations: Bethany Christian Services

Countries: Haiti