The 33 Haitian children who were almost smuggled out of the country last week have been found shelter at an SOS children's village near Port-au-Prince.

A number of people have reported to the children's charity organisation that they are the parents of the children. The organisation will thoroughly investigate the claims before any child is reunited with its family.

The charity says first the children have to recover from their ordeal. The children are well in spite of arriving hungry and thirsty at the village.

At the end of last week, ten members of an American religious group tried to abduct the children via the Dominican Republic. The group falsely claimed the children were orphans. Parents say the Americans coerced them into handing over their offspring saying they would have a better life in the US.

The group, which consisted of five men and five women, are being held at a police station in Port-au-Prince and could face trial in the US for kidnapping.

Photo: Haitian child - Flickr/IFRC