RIYADH, 11 January 2007 — The number of cases of smuggled children from Yemen into Saudi Arabia last year has decreased to 900, according to a Yemeni official. “This number is considered relatively low compared to previous years,” said Yemen’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Ali Al-Ahwal. The diplomat disclosed the figure at a press conference yesterday at the Ministry of Social Affairs where Saudi Minister Abdul Muhsin Al-Akkas met with the Yemeni Deputy Minister for Social Affairs Ali Saleh Abdullah.
The Yemeni diplomat, however, said that his country was not to be held fully responsible for smuggling of children from Yemen. “Just like there is a Yemeni side, unfortunately there is also a Saudi side responsible for the spread of this phenomenon,” said the ambassador.
On his part, Minister of Social Affairs Al-Akkas, said the number of Yemenis smuggled into the Kingdom was “very large”, saying that this phenomenon was global and did not concern Saudi Arabia and Yemen alone.
The minister said Yemeni children who were apprehended by authorities were taken care of until they were deported.
“The responsibility of the ministry toward these smuggled children is that they be given psychological and social care until they are deported back to their country,” said Al-Akkas. The minister said efforts were being made by concerned authorities in both countries to solve the problem. Discussions between Yemeni and Saudi officials would continue today, an official said.
