Jane Moyo, ActionAid spokesperson said: "Inter country adoption might help the future of one child but will not make a difference to the vast majority of the one million orphans living in Malawi. We need to help those children through giving to charity and through campaigning for change.
"We can understand Madonna’s disappointment and don’t doubt her intentions but equally we are now concerned about Mercy’s future. This little girl should never have been named. And now she will grow up knowing that she could have lived a life of material comfort. We would hope that Madonna will ensure that Mercy, her family and community are given a chance for a better future.
"ActionAid gives people in the UK the chance to support children and their communities who live in poverty by its child sponsorship scheme. There are currently hundreds of children in Malawi on ActionAid’s books awaiting child sponsorship."