An Alberta couple has been unable to bring home the twins they legally adopted from Ebola-affected Sierra Leone in February.

Kayt and Stefan Mahon, who live in Canmore, Alta., adopted Leo and Grace from an orphanage eight months ago. However, the Sierra Leone government is putting almost all of its resources into fighting Ebola and has not been able to issue passports for the twins. Without passports, they can't leave the country.

"We are concerned for their health because the medical system in Sierra Leone has all but collapsed," Stefan told CTV's Canada AM Friday. "All efforts, as they should be, are going toward the Ebola virus. But our children are more likely to have trouble with anything from malaria to other common diseases (typhoid or hepatitis B) and there is no one to help."

The children are currently in lockdown in an orphanage, where the couple said they are relatively safe from Ebola.

"They are doing well right now, it's the strain on the country that they are increasingly feeling," Kayt told CTV's Canada AM.

When the couple first heard about the outbreak, they had no idea it would explode into such a large problem.

"We figured it'd be a smaller case," said Kayt. "I don't think anyone thought it would be what it is now."

The couple are working with a midwife in the West African country who sends them updates on the children via text. They have appealed to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for help. CIC stated they are willing to help, but are waiting for documents.

"We just don't feel the urgency has been given to this situation," said Kayt.

The couple added that the outbreak is crippling civil infrastructure and the health-care system. Meanwhile the country is also seeing a major economic downturn and food shortages.

"All of that can affect our kids' health on a daily basis," said Stefan.

The current Ebola outbreak, which is the deadliest ever, has killed more than 1,500 people in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Sierra Leone, along with Guinea and Liberia are the hardest hit countries. The fatality rate in Sierra Leone is 42 per cent. WHO warns the total number of cases during the outbreak could exceed 200,000.

Canada announced earlier this week it will send a charter plane to Sierra Leone to bring scientists home who have been operating in the country's mobile Ebola laboratory. They are scheduled to return home today.