Haiti earthquake orphans stranded

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Many left orphaned by the Haiti earthquake are stranded with no adoptions pending as caregivers say they're struggling to bring them to the United States.

Thirty-four children are at Les Brebis de Saint Michel de l'Attalaye orphanage, living in difficult conditions, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday.

Jamie and Ali McMutrie of Pittsburgh, who cared for the children at the BRESMA facility, flew to Port-au-Prince Jan. 30 with supplies, and made an unsuccessful bid to bring the stranded children to Western Pennsylvania, the newspaper reported.

Earlier, a rescue mission led by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell managed to arrange for the rescue of 50 orphans with pending U.S. adoptions, the Post Gazette said.

Of the remaining children, most are destined for adoption in France, but 12 have not been accepted, the McMutrie sisters have learned.

The orphans are sleeping outdoors in tents and under canopies for fear aftershocks might collapse orphanage buildings, situated in one of Port-au-Prince's poorest sections, the newspaper said.

The McMutries, currently in Pennsylvania, say they will go back to Haiti, possibly this week. They will either come home with the stranded orphans or stay to watch over them, Jamie McMutrie said.