Angelina Jolie attacks Haiti adoptions

Feb 10, 2010, 16:31 GMT

Angelina Jolie has called for a restriction on adopting Haitian children.

The actress is visiting the earthquake-stricken Caribbean nation as part of her role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and praised the work of SOS Children's Villages, a worldwide programme to raise children inside their own countries which is attempting to reunite young people with their families following the natural disasters.

Angelina - who raises six kids with partner Brad Pitt, including three who are adopted - said: "New adoptions should definitely not be encouraged as an immediate response to the emergency. Haiti had many trafficking problems before the earthquake and now must keep a very close watch on the children. I would encourage as much support as possible to groups like SOS and UNICEF providing care for children in country."

The 34-year-old actress also visited a tented hospital and was astonished by the positivity of the patients, even those with serious injuries.

She explained: "I was struck by the strength and spirit of the Haitian people. Children as young as nine months old were coping with amputations with extraordinary resilience. I even met a little ten-year-old boy who had recently had his leg amputated, who was giggling to himself about a silly book as he sat on the floor.

"These doctors are extraordinary. For all the patients that had to have amputations there are also a high number of limbs and lives that the doctors have managed to save."

Angelina has also called for more aid to be given to the country, fearing it will be hit with worse problems with the onset of the rainy season.

She added: "It will take years to rebuild Haiti. The UN, governments, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and local organisations are providing more people with protection, food, water, shelter and health care, yet the needs are still enormous and the displacement could last a decade.

"Providing adequate shelter to the displaced is of paramount importance, especially as the upcoming rainy season threatens to add to the devastation. Everyone is bracing themselves for a second wave of tragedy."