Abandoned Children April 14, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Abuse, Children, Family, Kuwait, Life, Motherhood.15 comments
At a recent gathering we touched upon the topic of abandoned babies in Kuwait. In particular, we brought up the incident of the two children found abandoned in a walking area in Khaldia (a three year old boy and a newborn). It was mentioned that these children were later adopted by a Kuwaiti family and taken into care.
However, an interesting point was brought up that made me wonder about the intentions of some parents who abandon their children in Kuwait.
According to a woman with a legal background, most cases of abandoned children involve expatriates or non-Kuwaiti citizens. The children are abandoned on purpose in the hopes that they will eventually be found and referred to the orphanage in Kuwait. Since Kuwait is a welfare state, these abandoned children will be cared for and looked after by the state. They are entitled to free schooling and medical care and Kuwaiti citizenship upon turning eighteen. Even when they are adopted by local families, they are still cared for by the state and receive a monthly allowance.
What surprised me is what this woman said next. She said that the parents of an “abandoned” child keep track of what happens to their child. When the child is settled in the orphanage, the parents make their next move. They go to the orphanage and “choose” to adopt their own child.
In that way, the woman said, these people have guaranteed their child lifelong care free of charge and a Kuwaiti citizenship.
Is it possible that some people would go so far as that to circumvent the law and common decency?
I am not sure of what to believe.
