EUROPE/ITALY - International adoption? Better to help children in their own country than deprive South East Asian of a whole generation say Missionaries on the spot - Adoption at a distance is the right answer

Rome (Fides Service) - According to the Milan based Italian association Amici dei Bambini, (Friends of Children), “since the December 26 seaquake hundreds of Italian families have offered to adopt children who lost their parents in the disaster. Their generosity is an encouraging sign of humanity to meet the solitude and devastation of the victims who have lost everything”. However, the association says, in the present situation adoption and care at a distance are perhaps better. International adoption for these children already under shock involving moving away from their land, culture and customs would only increase the trauma. Catholi. Missionaries and volunteers working in Asia agree. Proper adoption would deprive the stricken countries of a whole generation: 10,000 children reported dead plus orphans transferred to other countries.
“It is better - said Marco Griffini Amici dei Bambini president - to assist children where they are encouraging and helping local families to welcome orphans. This is the best way to help and each of us can give a hand, sustaining these efforts to ensure that these unfortunate children have all they need ”.
Amici dei Bambini has launched adoption at a distance campaign to open Assistance Centres to provide emergency care for orphans in Sri Lanka, one of the countries worst hit by the Christmas seaquake. A second stage will involve development through Family Service Centres to encourage and support family and national adoption.
The association has worked in Sri Lanka since 1998 assisting families and abandoned minors in collaboration with its local partner the Sisters of Our Lady of Cremona. Amici dei Bambini is an NGO which promotes interventions of co-operation for development and support at a distance especially for abandoned children with interventions of co-operation for development and international adoption in Italy, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Morocco and Sri Lanka.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/1/2005 righe 33 parole 356)