During the first week of April all of our families who completed adoptions from Vietnam were contacted regarding an epidemic of pneumonia at the Tuyen Quang orphanage and the great need for donations so that medicine and breathing machines may be purchased and to assist with hospital and caregiver costs. We have been told that at least a dozen babies had been hospitalized and one sadly has passed away. At this time more than 30 babies in the orphanage are sick, 3 are in a hospital
in Hanoi and 5 are in a hospital in Tuyen Quang. The costs to care for these children continue to increase and the need is very serious. CAS has sent $1,500 from their humanitarian aid funds to assist the babies in Tuyen Quang. To date CAS has received $3,690 for these babies from many generous families who have adopted children from Vietnam or from those who have a connection to adoptions from Vietnam. Thank you very much for your outpouring of support.
While many babies have been adopted by Italian families since the shutdown of adoptions to American families, adoptions have slowed down as there are not enough Italian families in the program. This then leads to more and more babies waiting in the orphanage. At this time there is no projection as to when adoptions may re-open for Americans. There have been discussions that Vietnam may sign on to The Hague Convention and that there may not be a new Memorandum of Understanding before Vietnam ratifies The Hague. If this is the case it may take quite a bit of time
before Vietnam is Hague compliant and adoptions may resume. We will continue to update all of our families who have adopted children from Vietnam about the situation in Tuyen Quang and any updates on adoptions re-opening. On behalf of the babies in the Tuyen Quang orphanage thank you to all of our donors for your kind generosity.