AP Interview: UNICEF chief warns people may be trying to smuggle children out of Haiti

UNICEF warns against Haiti child smuggling

UNITED NATIONS — The head of UNICEF warns that people may still be trying to smuggle children out of Haiti and says protecting youngsters who survived the earthquake is the top concern of the U.N. children’s agency.

Ann Veneman said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press that UNICEF is starting a program to identify children who lost or can’t find their parents. It is also working with other groups to put youngsters who are alone into facilities where they can receive food, water and psychological help, she said.

Veneman, who visited Haiti last week, said in every humanitarian emergency, whether an earthquake or tsunami, there’s a risk that children will be trafficked out of the country for sexual exploitation, adoption, child labor or other illegal purposes.