The process for accepting adoption of earthquake orphans in southwest China's Sichuan Province has not yet started as the local government is still working to confirm the status of the children left orphaned at present.

The China Youth Daily learned from the provincial Civil Affairs department on Friday that so far many parents of the children in the quake-hit regions are still considered missing and have not been declared dead, so the adopt process is not likely to start in the short term.

The department said it will notify the public through the media once the process starts.

Meanwhile, the department's hotline has been receiving thousands of inquires about adopting quake orphans each day.

(CRIENGLISH.com May 31, 2008)