China’s Bereaved Families Adopt Earthquake Orphans

From the Times Online:

About 1,869 children were
orphaned by the tremor, and another 9,000 were killed in collapsed schools.

The first aim will be to find homes for the children with any surviving
relatives, according to the guidelines. Those from local ethnic minority
groups, such as the mountain-living Qiang or Tibetans, will be found homes
that will ensure the minimum of disruption as well as respect for their
religious traditions.

Parents who have lost their children in the tremor will be considered first
for adopting orphans whose family members cannot be found. This will help to
ensure that the children remain in villages or towns as close as possible to
where they once lived. Children aged 10 and over will be consulted to obtain
their agreement in any adoption.