Monday 16 / September / 2024
Muscat: In case no relative of the abandoned girl turns up, the public will be given a chance to foster her, a Ministry of Social Development official has said.
“The abandoned girl is being kept now at the ‘Al Wifaq’ Care Centre in the Wilayat of Al Seeb after all legal procedures are over,” said Riyadh Al Siyabi of the Ministry’s media department.
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He said in such cases, the ministry is keen to provide enough time for relatives to show up and prove their relations with the abandoned children.
“If no one shows up, then the centre will open a fostering option for the public, based on the procedures and requirements that are usually considered in an adoption process,” said Al Siyabi.
Al Siyabi added that there are criteria to be followed in order to foster a child, and those who are interested must contact the Child Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development and should meet these requirements.
The girl was found abandoned last week in a public park in Al Buraimi and was transferred to one of the child care centres in Muscat, which falls under the Ministry of Social Development.
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The news went viral on social media as the reactions varied between many who offered to foster the child; others showed sympathy with her and some others offered a cash award for any person who could find the abandoned girl's parents.
The unidentified girl is around two years old, said the Royal Oman Police (ROP), while appealing to relatives or members of the public, who have any information about the abandoned child, to immediately contact the Al Buraimi police station, or call at the emergency number 9999. The police has referred the matter to the Ministry of Social Development after completing the required procedures.
