JEDDAH: The plight of a four-year-old Saudi girl who was twice abandoned by her parents is causing deep concern among the Makkah authorities and care organizations.
Hanouf was found lost at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, abandoned by her parents. The family had lost the child on Oct. 4. The airport security found her alone and crying in a passenger lounge and sent her to the social protection center. The incident has also raised new questions on the role of society and public organizations in providing protection for such children.
According to Ali Al-Hanaki, director general of the Social Affairs Ministry’s office in Makkah province, Hanouf’s case remains a mystery. “The girl’s family refused to receive her from the hospital where she was admitted for treatment. This proves that her case is complicated,” Al-Hanaki told Al-Madinah daily.
He emphasized the need to find out the reasons for the girl’s parents abandoning her for a second time in less than two months. Last time she was found abandoned on the Corniche.
“The girl should not be handed over to the family except after necessary investigations,” Al-Hanaki said.
A number of social and legal experts agreed with Al-Hanaki on the need to investigate the girl’s family for negligence of responsibility.
Khaled Al-Barqawi, deputy dean of the College of Sociology at Makkah’s Umm Al-Qura University, suspected that family conflict could have been the reason for the sad plight of the girl. “The Ministry of Social Affairs should investigate the family,” he said, adding that the girl could have been a victim of family violence.
He said the girl should be given proper psychological care to remove fears caused by her being left alone.
Saeed Al-Ghamdi, a legal expert, urged the authorities to protect the girl’s rights. “Authorities should not hand over the child to the family except after conducting a thorough investigation. If the girl’s parents are found unqualified to take care of her, she should be admitted to the Social Protection Center.”
Misfer Al-Juaid, spokesman for Jeddah police, said Hanouf had been handed over to the center after she was found abandoned at the airport. “When the family came to the police station they were given a letter to receive the child from the center after ID verification.”
Dr. Enaam Raboue, head of the Association for Family Protection, said her organization was ready to provide necessary assistance to the girl. “Our association has the ability to provide her the necessary treatment with the help of experts,” she said, adding that the treatment would take one to 12 months depending on the girl’s condition.
