Save The Children: Finding priority families for orphans in the earthquake zone

The earthquakes, which caused extensive destruction in 10 provinces of Turkey and Syria, left dozens of children and babies without families. As discussions continue over the future of children who have lost their parents, England-based children’s rights organization Save The Children has made a major statement on the subject.

In the press release published by Save The Children, it was noted that children found by authorities during earthquakes or pulled from rubble should not be rushed into adoption. The organization stressed that the children must be found or their families learned rather than adopted at this time.

“Until local authorities and humanitarian organizations have exhausted all efforts to reunite children with their families or relatives, the adoption process is not the right approach,” the statement said. Noting that many people around the world applied to adopt children left alone after the earthquakes, Save The Children pointed out that communication in the earthquake-affected regions is very limited at the moment and many orphaned children can still be reunited. with their families.

‘THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THEY KNOW’

Emphasizing that steps must be taken to protect children from danger in a crisis environment, the organization called for efforts to find families to continue without stopping. Rebecca Smith, director of Save The Children’s Global Child Protection Unit, said: “It’s natural to see these heartbreaking images and want to help, but adoption is something that should never be pursued during and immediately after emergencies like those in Turkey and Syria. “.

Noting that Save The Children has intervened in similar crises for many years, Smith stressed that it is very important to support traumatized children in their hometown and among family members, in an environment they know and trust.

The organization also stated that financial assistance to close relatives who take in children under protection and donations through reliable institutions are very important in this process.