Ethiopian adoptions drawing criticism

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 4 (UPI) -- Ethiopia is growing rapidly as a favored site for U.S. citizens seeking an adoptive child but many have criticized the rise as a potentially dangerous practice.

Government officials in both nations have begun questioning whether the adoption system in place in Ethiopia is prepared to deal with the rising number of adoption requests in an appropriate fashion, The New York Times reported Monday.

"I don't think we'll be able to handle it," Ethiopian Ministry of Women's Affairs official Haddush Halefom said. "We don't have the capacity to handle all these new agencies and we have to monitor the quality, not just the quantity."

With Ethiopia now the fifth most popular adoption site for U.S. citizens, up from 16th in 2000, adoption agencies are opening at an alarming speed to meet the rising demand.

Officials have called on both nations' governments to ensure that the current level of care given to Ethiopian adoptions be maintained.

The Times said some have also asked that the number of agencies be capped to ensure that quality.