More babies being left at 'safe island'  

南京弃婴岛启用两周弃婴激增 福利院难以应对

Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2013 shows the interior of the baby hatch in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. The first baby hatch of Nanjing City was set up and put into use near Nanjing Children Welfare Center recently. (Xinhua/Shen Peng)

(ECNS) -- The Nanjing children's welfare institution in Jiangsu province is feeling the pressure to cope with the increasing number of unwanted babies at the "safe island," CNR reported.

Nanjing established the "safe island," a shelter where parents can leave their babies safely and anonymously outside the institution, on Dec 10.

The institution admitted they have received more babies than in past years. Although specific numbers were not released, the report estimates it is likely a dozen.

Owners of stores near the institution said babies are being found at the safe haven every day since it was established.

The report said most babies are left there at night, sometimes by people from other provinces.

The institution expressed concern over the rising number of abandonments, as they have a limited number of staff and facilities. "It was not our original intention," it said.

The safe haven aims to provide a shelter for the babies, not encourage abandonment, it added.

In most cases, parents are simply unable to afford the medical care needed by babies who are physically or mentally handicapped, Liu Ping of the institution said, adding that compulsory health checks and free pregnancy screening can mean fewer handicapped children are born.

At the beginning, the "safe island" provoked a national media outcry, with critics saying that such a set-up would encourage more parents to dump unwanted children.