Hu Wen (R), who lost her parents in the May 12 earthquake, plays happily with her cousin and uncle-in-law.

The reason only 12 earthquake orphans have been adopted by new families is because authorities have been respecting the wishes of the children, the head of Sichuan civil affairs bureau told the same press meeting yesterday in Chengdu.

"Most of the orphans prefer to live with their family relatives, such as grandparents or uncle and aunt," Huang Mingquan said at the meeting launched before the one-year anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.

"The family relatives also strongly ask for the custody of these children," he said.

Some 630 orphans were left following the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan province on May 12 last year.

Foreigners are not allowed to adopt earthquake orphans, according to the China Center of Adoption Affairs under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

"Other earthquake orphans, who do not have any family members or their family members were unable to take care of them, have been arranged to live in various social welfare institutions or boarding schools," Huang said.

Each quake orphan could get 600 yuan a month from the government backdated to last December and continue to receive the funds until they are 18.

The financial support extends to the 635 elders and 184 disabled people who lost all of their family members in last year's earthquake.

(China Daily May 8, 2009)