CAMBRIDGE, England, January 20 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 http://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

SOURCE: SOS Children

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