Haitian orphanages prepare for influx of children

An Alberta-based, non-profit group that runs an orphanage in Haiti is preparing for an increase in the number of children who lost their parents in a devastating earthquake.

Dana Marquardt, treasurer for God's Littlest Angels Canada, said the organization is scrambling to secure diapers, food, and clean drinking water.

Marquardt, who lives in Okotoks, just south of Calgary, fears the already overcrowded orphanages in the country won't be able to handle more children.

"I don't know how we're going to take more children. But I don't know how we can't. There's only so many resources. Can we get diesel fuel? Can we get water? Can we get food?" wondered Marquardt, who has adopted four children from Haiti.

Jerry Epp, president of God's Littlest Angels Canada, said the 160 children in his agency's care are safe after the massive quake on Tuesday. The orphanage, located in the hills above the capital of Port-au-Prince, was spared any damage but roads around it are wrecked.

Epp said the orphanage was already filled to double its capacity before the earthquake, but the facility will make do.

"We will set up beds on floor. We will set up beds anywhere we can because we have a better chance of saving them," he said.

Callie Finley, who lives in Okotoks, adopted her daughter Gigi three months ago, and shares the concerns about Haiti's children.

"If we don't have the funds in place to buy formula, to give them medicine, to put diapers on them, to give them water and a place to live, they die," said Finley.

"There is no other place for them to go. If they can't go to an orphanage, the children die."

Peter Eyvindson, from Saskatchewan-based Broken Wings Mission, said one of its three homes for children in Haiti was destroyed in the earthquake.

Eyvindson said a staff member was seriously injured and one child was in bad shape.

But he said the non-profit group plans to rebuild in anticipation of more children needing help.