Reported on ABC4 by Robert Walz
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4 News) - A new homeland security procedure called "Humanitarian Parole" could bring dozens of Haitian orphans out of harm's way. Dozens of orphans left homeless by the earthquake in Haiti now live in the parking lot of an LDS church south of Port au Prince.
According to Ogden based Wasatch International 18 of the 25 children in the adoption process with Utah families have clean water, food, and temporary shelter.
According to Ogden based Wasatch International 18 of the 25 children in the adoption process with Utah families have clean water, food, and temporary shelter.
However, the Rosenlof family in Lehi don’t know if the children they want to adopt are dead or alive. They started trying to adopt little Jessica and Nathan from an orphanage in Haiti 27 months ago.
"We've been down six times in the past two years and we have spent over 6-weeks with these children and they know that we are their momma and poppa,” said Lori Rosenlof.
But the earthquake leveled the orphanage they lived in and no one can find the children. ”We are waiting on spotty connections and e-mail they might not even get connection to tell us tonight if they have any other news,” Lori said.
Several other families in Utah were in the process of adopting children for Haiti through Wasatch International. Adoption specialist Chareyl Moyes said they have located all but seven of the children. "They had rummaged some food from the orphanage, the little bit that was there, but they basically went about three days without food and without water,” Moyes said.
Impoverished conditions in Haiti lead to the adoption of hundreds of orphan children from Haiti, kids like 6 year old Robby who the Moye’s family adopted 4 years ago. "I've been watching TV,” Robby said. “I have been watching about Haiti.” Even at his young age Robby knows what happened in his homeland and feels compassion for those less fortunate than he is.
“I watched all the kids in Haiti that died in the earthquake,” he said. "Can you write to Haiti and give them some toys and water and food."
But under the new humanitarian parole program orphan children currently in the adoption process could get permission to leave the ailing island sooner than later and come to loving homes in Utah.
"If we can get them here and they can start their life together with their parents and with their families then something great will come out of something bad," Moyes said.
The Rosenlofs said they live minute-by-minute watching cable television and hoping to hear some good news from Haiti. If the humanitarian parole program goes through the orphan children could be evacuated to the United States.
"We've been down six times in the past two years and we have spent over 6-weeks with these children and they know that we are their momma and poppa,” said Lori Rosenlof.
But the earthquake leveled the orphanage they lived in and no one can find the children. ”We are waiting on spotty connections and e-mail they might not even get connection to tell us tonight if they have any other news,” Lori said.
Several other families in Utah were in the process of adopting children for Haiti through Wasatch International. Adoption specialist Chareyl Moyes said they have located all but seven of the children. "They had rummaged some food from the orphanage, the little bit that was there, but they basically went about three days without food and without water,” Moyes said.
Impoverished conditions in Haiti lead to the adoption of hundreds of orphan children from Haiti, kids like 6 year old Robby who the Moye’s family adopted 4 years ago. "I've been watching TV,” Robby said. “I have been watching about Haiti.” Even at his young age Robby knows what happened in his homeland and feels compassion for those less fortunate than he is.
“I watched all the kids in Haiti that died in the earthquake,” he said. "Can you write to Haiti and give them some toys and water and food."
But under the new humanitarian parole program orphan children currently in the adoption process could get permission to leave the ailing island sooner than later and come to loving homes in Utah.
"If we can get them here and they can start their life together with their parents and with their families then something great will come out of something bad," Moyes said.
The Rosenlofs said they live minute-by-minute watching cable television and hoping to hear some good news from Haiti. If the humanitarian parole program goes through the orphan children could be evacuated to the United States.
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