Comprehensive update on the situation and responses underway following January’s Earthquake in Haiti. Reports on the full spectrum of the response including health, nutrition, education, early childhood development and the scale-up of protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation and abuse of children.

Key messages and guidance for action

Provides guidance to organisations working in Haiti about how they can most appropriately communicate with communities, their own personnel and the media. The Guidance Note focuses mainly on the acute phase of the response (including early recovery) and provides basic guidance for action.

Member agencies of the Disasters Emergency Committee are calling for international focus to remain on reuniting children who have lost their families during the earthquake in Haiti rather than adopting them out of the country.

US State child welfare administrators had started planning for a possible influx of Haitian children orphaned by the catastrophic quake, but now are being told there will be no such exodus.

Deputy Executive Director Hilde Johnson calls for all unaccompanied and/or separated children to be registered, traced and reunited with family where possible and appropriate. This includes children who were in alternative care, such as in crèches and “orphanages”, prior to the earthquake.

Call for humanitarian response to uphold recommendations set forth in the Guidelines for Alternative Care in regards to care for children in emergencies, preventing family separation and promoting family based care in their community of origin where possible.

Statement noting potential dangers associated with ICA in emergencies with specific reference to risk of family separation.

Opinion editorial on risks associated with using intercountry adoption as an emergency response to the needs of children in Haiti.

Online update on concerns around promoting adoption in an emergency context.