The Ministry of Social Affairs is in the process of identifying orphans of foreign mothers and unknown fathers, who do not possess identification documents.

The step coincides with the Civil Status Department’s announcement of its intention to withdraw Saudi nationality from children with unknown parents in case it discovers that the father is a foreigner. According to Saudi law and regulations, children receive the citizenship of their fathers.

Latifa Al-Tamimi, from the ministry’s social supervision division in the Eastern Province, submitted a formal request to the department for orphans to provide the ministry with the names of orphans whose mothers are foreigners and fathers unknown, and have no personal identification documents in their possession.

Al-Tamimi, who earlier headed a regular meeting held by the social supervision division, did not disclose the aim of these lists, and did not link the issue with the Civil Status Department’s decision to withdraw Saudi citizenship.

She confirmed that Social Affairs Minister Majed Al-Qassabi is eager to cooperate and communicate with the media to build a true image of the services the ministry provides to members of society.

She noted that the minister requested the draft of a developmental track for the lives of orphans and the handicapped to draw a clear plan for services offered to them.

Al-Qassabi was recently briefed on the booklet on initiatives from the social supervisions division for women in the Eastern Province. He commended the initiatives and programs and demanded activating and implementing them quickly.

The division is entrusted with caring for orphans with unknown parents from the moment they are found until they are capable and can build their own personalities.

The division provides them with accommodation, nutrition, pocket money and education. The Social Affairs Ministry seeks the help of “friendly families” to take care and embrace the children. The ministry also offers additional aid, including financial assistance to help them marry.