2nd of two flights touches down with children ready for new homes and families

Haitian orphans on a bus before leaving Port au Prince for Canada

The left 30 degrees in Haiti and touched down in Ottawa at -4 C. The weather wasn’t on the minds of 52 Haitians flown to Canada to be united with their adoptive parents.

This is the second plane load of orphans from Haiti since the earthquake. 24 children arrived on Sunday bringing the total to 76.

The children had already been cleared to come to Canada and it was only necessary to fast-track the paperwork and get then safely on flights north.

Adoption of children who weren’t in the final stages of adoption by Canadian parents is expected to take longer since paperwork has been lost in the earthquake, government buildings destroyed and chaos reigns in the Haitian government.

These children have endured the trauma of the earthquake, the earlier loss of their parents and now the stress of entering a new country, climate and culture. It not easy to over-come all of this in a hurry. Children are, for the most part, resilient. The adoptive parents are excited and optimistic about their happy life in Canada.

Video: CBC News

“Canadian Embassy staff in Haiti are working hard to find and identify all the children that have been cleared for adoption to Canada by the Government of Haiti and by provincial adoption authorities,” said Peter Kent, Canada’s minister of state for foreign affairs said.

“These children are the second group to arrive in Canada whose adoptions are at the final stages of approval and have been cleared by the Haitian government.”

“It deeply saddens me, however, to report that the number of Canadian fatalities has now reached 21. In addition, 147 Canadians remain unaccounted for. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the deceased, and with those who await news of loved ones. We know this is not an easy time for them.”

“The needs in Haiti continue to be great. Food, water, emergency medical assistance and shelter have all been identified by the Government of Haiti as key priorities. At present, close to 1,400 Canadian Forces personnel are in Haiti.”