Haitian orphans headed for Pittsburgh

A rescue mission to Haiti led by Gov. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D., Pa.) was expected to return to Pittsburgh overnight, carrying as many as 61 orphans from the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

The chartered plane carrying medical teams and supplies, which arrived at the overwhelmed Port-au-Prince airport last evening from Pittsburgh, was forced to depart after its allotted two hours before officials could resolve some documentation issues, Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said, leaving the children and members of the party, including Rendell, on the ground.

Officials scrambled to secure another plane to bring the children back to Pittsburgh, Tuma said. The rescue party and the orphans boarded a military C-130, which departed from Haiti around 11 p.m.

The children's orphanage was heavily damaged in last week's earthquakes.

Catholic Charities has arranged for their care until they are adopted. Most are under 5. About 90 other children from the orphanage were being taken in similar missions by the Dutch and French, Tuma said.

The Pennsylvania mission was arranged with agencies including the U.S. State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the military.

"The reason the governor is personally on the plane is that the Haitian ambassador thought it was important to have someone of his stature on the plane so if the mission ran into difficulty he might be able to break down some of the barriers," Tuma said.

The mission came in response to messages last week from sisters Jamie and Ali McMutrie of Ben Avon, a Pittsburgh suburb, who said the earthquake endangered the health of orphans in their care at the Bresma orphanage in Port-au-Prince.

A spokeswoman said doctors expected to find children suffering dehydration, diarrhea, and other problems related to lack of food, water, and health care, and sanitary facilities.

Luke Hingson, president of the Pittsburgh-based international charity Brother's Brother Foundation, said sponsors of the flight offered space on the plane to carry medical supplies. He said his organization provided "several thousand pounds" of supplies, including antibiotics, surgical packs, and instruments. Hingson said the organizers of the relief effort wished to remain anonymous, the Associated Press reported.

The offices of Rep. Mike Doyle and Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter, all Pennsylvania Democrats, helped arrange the flight, but Altmire, whose district includes Allegheny County, was reported to be leading the effort.