OTTAWA, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- With adoptions fast-tracked by Canada, the first group of 24 Haitian children arrived in Ottawa Sunday to meet their new parents, officials said.
Children ranging from 11 months to 8 years old were taken off the Air Canada Airbus A-330 at 7:30 a.m., many wrapped in blue blankets shielding them from the cold, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
"We're delighted that this initial group has come here safely and successfully. All of the kids appear to be healthy -- and I think a little bit unnerved by the cold Canadian winter," said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.
Families in Quebec will receive 15 children, with the rest to resettle elsewhere in the country, the CBC said.
Sunday's flight was supposed to contain 50-60 children from earthquake-ravaged Haiti but the orphanage taking care of them wasn't ready to release them.
Kenney said Haitian authorities approved about 90 orphans to live with Canadian families and more children will arrive in the coming days.
