Slideshow: Fifty-three Haitian orphans arrive in Pittsburgh (video, photos)

Slideshow: Fifty-three Haitian orphans arrive in Pittsburgh (video, photos)

Fifty-three Haitian orphans arrived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania today. The children survived the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti and may have claimed more than 200,000 casualties. The children arrived in Pittsburgh a little before 9:30 a.m. January 19, 2010.

Slideshow: Fifty-three Haitian orphans arrive in Pittsburgh (videos, photos)

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The children were brought directly to Children’s Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where they will undergo thorough pediatric evaluations. Sources say that teddy bears were waiting for the children at the hospital. Once released from the hospital they will be taken to foster homes in groups.

The foster care arrangements were made by Catholic Charities with the intent of keeping as many children together as possible. The children will remain under foster care until they are adopted. Currently, 47 of the 53 have pending adoption agreements; forty of which are in the United States.

The fifty three children came from one Port-au-Prince orphanage that had been run by two sisters: Ali and Jamie McMutrie. Early reports stated that many of the children suffered from dehydration and were experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea and fevers. It is not yet known what the results of their examinations at Children's Hospital are.  The children's ages range from 9 months to 12 years old.

Many of the rules for adopting children of Haiti have been relaxed due to the devastating earthquake. As much paperwork has been destroyed, the United States has agreed to allow Haitian orphans into the United States without waiting for passports or depending upon final adoption paperwork.

A group of Haitian orphans, whose orphanage was destroyed by last week's massive earthquake, stand bundled together as they wait to be loaded onto to a bus after arriving aboard a U.S. Air Force plane at Pittsburgh International Airport Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 in Imperial, Pa. The orphans will be taken to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for medical care and be placed in group homes until their adoptions are finalized. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and other officials escorted the children from Haiti, where they and their American caretakers spent days in dire need of food and water. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Slideshow: Fifty-three Haitian orphans arrive in Pittsburgh (video, photos)