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Nepal: Orphanages See Decline in International Adoption

February 09, 2011 | Pulitzer Center
Sagarmatha orphanage, located a few miles outside of Kathmandu, provides shelter to dozens of children who have either lost their parents or were found on the streets. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

Sagarmatha orphanage, located a few miles outside of Kathmandu, provides shelter to dozens of children who have either lost their parents or were found on the streets. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

The orphanage is home to both children and teenagers, all of whom live there and attend local schools. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

The orphanage is home to both children and teenagers, all of whom live there and attend local schools. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

The orphanage provides schooling and educational needs to all of their children through donations and adoption fees, which foreign parents have to pay in order to adopt a child. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

The orphanage provides schooling and educational needs to all of their children through donations and adoption fees, which foreign parents have to pay in order to adopt a child. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

After the suspension of adoption from Nepal, orphanages say their main income source has dried, forcing them to put children out of school because of lack of money. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

After the suspension of adoption from Nepal, orphanages say their main income source has dried, forcing them to put children out of school because of lack of money. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

Rajan Kumar Nepali said one of the orphanages wrongfully placed his daughter for adoption. Following cases like this, the United States pulled the plug on international adoption from Nepal. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

Rajan Kumar Nepali said one of the orphanages wrongfully placed his daughter for adoption. Following cases like this, the United States pulled the plug on international adoption from Nepal. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

Several children here have already been matched with foreign parents, while some are waiting to find new parents. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

Several children here have already been matched with foreign parents, while some are waiting to find new parents. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

A group of children at the orphanage look at photographs of their new parents. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

A group of children at the orphanage look at photographs of their new parents. Image by Anup Kaphle. Nepal, 2011.

The children stay at the orphanage until the parents come and pick up their newly adopted child. Many children who have already been matched with their new parents are now in limbo, as new regulations require proof that the children are in fact orphans or have been legally surrendered for adoption by their birth parents. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

The children stay at the orphanage until the parents come and pick up their newly adopted child. Many children who have already been matched with their new parents are now in limbo, as new regulations require proof that the children are in fact orphans or have been legally surrendered for adoption by their birth parents. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

Orphanages hope that foreign countries lift the suspension soon so that those children who haven't been adopted yet can find new parents and a better future. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

Orphanages hope that foreign countries lift the suspension soon so that those children who haven't been adopted yet can find new parents and a better future. Image by Habiba Nosheen. Nepal, 2011.

Following allegations of fraudulent paperwork, several countries including the United States, have suspended child adoption from Nepal. Hundreds of children who are in need of new homes and proper care are now waiting in orphanages throughout Nepal.