ARAFAT, 19 December 2007 — At the Lost Children’s Center in Arafat, twelve year-old Bassam helps in assisting with younger lost children. The young Egyptian haji, who was separated from his parents and younger sister on the vast plains of Arafat, succeeded in comforting — and extracting information from — two children, ages 2 and 3, using toys and candy provided by the center.
“Children communicate better with other children,” said one of the Boy Scout volunteers at the center. “He’s been a great help.”
Last year the center helped in reuniting 230 children with their parents, said Dr. Naser Ali Al-Khulaify, Director of the Lost Children’s Centers in the Holy Sites. “It’s a time of joy when pilgrims are united with their young ones,” said Al-Khulaify.
The first child was admitted to the center at 7.30 yesterday morning. “The majority of the children at the center are not pilgrims but Makkah residents whose families work in the holy sites,” said Al-Khulaify. As soon as a child arrives, staff members take his or her picture; as much information as possible is gathered and posted on the official missing children’s website www.scouts.org.
The lost-and-found and information services are provided by Saudi Boy Scouts — approximately 2,200. By yesterday afternoon, the center had helped reunite 12 children with their families with six others still waiting.
For the past 36 years Al-Khulaify has volunteered in Arafat. He said most of the children are soon reunited with their families.
Children who are not claimed after the Standing at Arafat are taken to Muzdalifah. “If they are not claimed there, we inform the concerned embassy,” Khulaify said. “Last year three children were delivered to their family’s door steps and thank God, up to today, all the lost children have been successfully reunited with their families,” he added.
Al-Khulaify advised pilgrims who are separated from their children at any point during the Haj to go at once to the nearest Lost Children’s Center. Staff in the center say the biggest problem they face with children is the language barrier.
