The earthquake killed thousands of people, left millions homeless, and has decimated the country’s tenuous economic situation. Children were left without parents, and parents that survived were left without a way to provide for their children.    As a result, Haiti’s orphanages are overflowing with children, ranging from infants to young teens, some orphaned by death and others orphaned as the result of being abandoned by the living.

Parents or family members that have been thrust into the role of substitute parents are being forced to make a decision between allowing these young children to remain in the unspeakable conditions of life on the street and in tent cities or leaving them at orphanages in hopes that they will be adopted or cared for in an secure and safe environment.  There are a number of organizations that have set up orphanages to provide safe haven for these children.  What is heartbreaking is that the organizations are seeing a dramatic increase in children that aren’t orphans at all.  One agency has reported triple the amount of children being left on their doorsteps or in dumpsters and cardboard boxes, than there were right after the quake.

Sadly, the situation has become so dire, that organizations are now actually offering parents and care takers additional support and food to entice them into keeping their children.  More often than not, the children themselves are torn between wanting to be with familiar faces and wanting freedom from the realities of life on the street (menial labor, hunger, and an inability to go to school).

In an effort to increase awareness of the growing problem, CNN released a documentary that can be viewed this weekend, entitled “Rescued” which gives insight into the plight of these children and their parents.    The solution to the problem is clearly to increase the ability of parents and family members to adequately take care of these children.  Until that happens there will continue to be families that have to make the choice between keeping their most precious gifts or with ultimate love giving them to those that can offer a better life.  Donating to organizations like UNICEF, Mother Teresa Orphanages, and SOS Orphanages can assist with the daunting task of providing as semblance of normal life to these innocent victims of a tragedy that continues to play itself out in tragic ways