NEWS: Sri Lankan Families Who Lost Children Are Taking Tsunami Orphans Without Approval, page 1l

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Topic started on 31-12-2004 @ 10:16 AM by FredT

Amidst the tragedy of the tsunami disaster, a new one may be unfolding. Families in Sri Lanka who may have lost children in the tidal waves that have killed over 125,000 are taking away orphans who lost parents. Denounced by both the government and an aid organization there is concern about the welfare of the children taken.

story.news.yahoo.co m
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Grieving families of children who perished from tsunamis in Sri Lanka are taking away orphans from the disaster without approval, a move denounced Friday by the government and an aid organization.

An official from the Department of Child Care and Protection, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he had heard of a dozen cases in Galle and Matara, on Sri Lanka's southern coast, in which orphaned children had been taken in by families that lost loved ones. He asked families to stop.

The southern coast took the main brunt of Sunday's massive earthquake-generated tsunamis. As of Friday, more than 28,000 people had died on the island, and children accounted for a third of the victims.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Its hard to condemn the actions that these people are taking in response to what must be overwhelming grief. However, as the aid organization and the government put it, there has to be evaluations before you can place children. The family that is adopting must be fit otherwise long term harm will come to the child. One official for the government has told of at least 12 cases so far. In reality, can they really have an accurate number, or be able to stop it?

reply posted on 31-12-2004 @ 10:46 AM by IntelRetard

My belief is this may be a good thing in the bigger picture for most orphans. Yes there will be abuse however childred need a home and parents need to fill a void. My best guess is most adopters have good intentions. The devastation is just to enormous to wade through red tape at this moment. As we in America have seen, even the so called "best" homes for children are not safe.

[edit on 31-12-2004 by IntelRetard]

reply posted on 31-12-2004 @ 11:44 AM by shots

fredT
Its hard to condemn the actions that these people are taking in response to what must be overwhelming grief. However, as the aid organization and the government put it, there has to be evaluations before you can place children. The family that is adopting must be fit otherwise long term harm will come to the child. One official for the government has told of at least 12 cases so far. In reality, can they really have an accurate number, or be able to stop it?

I could see perhaps a few, but 12 seems extremely high to me. I just hope that is not someone taking advantage of the current situation by stealing them only to sell them on the black market or in foreign countries to make a fast buck. I know that sounds rather sick however, one has to deal with reality.

I sure hope I am wrong and that is not the case.

reply posted on 31-12-2004 @ 12:43 PM by flycatch

Is this just another custom of the Muslim faith?

reply posted on 31-12-2004 @ 02:00 PM by dgtempe

If i were there, i'd round up any child wondering the streets and keep them , of course, i'd make every effort to find their relatives too.

Why not? Its not like here in other countries, specially in the midst of a disaster...no one is going to sue.
I know, i lived in other countries. Once you find the proper relative of the child they'd love you for having taken the child in. Thats how it is in other countries.

If i couldnt find next of kin, i would raise them as my own.