Forged documents are used to bring in and out detainees' children of Lahn Al-Hayat Orphanage: Director

The Ministry of Social Affairs has formed an investigative committee to follow up on the case of detained children. This is a continuation of the work of the previous committee formed by former Minister Fadi Qassem, said Moatasem Al-Salumi, director of the Lahn Al-Hayat Orphanage.

The committee's work will include all foster homes in Syria, as initial investigations have revealed a large number of children who were detained, distributed across several foster care institutions.

According to reports, 30% of the files studied so far concern children who were detained in the prisons of the former regime. Cases of children entering and leaving the Lahn Al-Hayat complex without official files being created for them have also been identified, in addition to the existence of fake documents related to their entry and exit from the complex.

Al-Salumi confirmed that the ministry, in cooperation with the complex's administration, is seeking to identify all children in foster homes and attempt to track down their families. He noted that the task faces significant challenges, given that many families believe their children were killed with their families in detention centers or in security branches during the rule of the former regime.

This difficulty is exacerbated by the presence of sibling children who have been separated and distributed to various foster homes, or even placed with unrelated families.

In this context, Al-Saloumi called on all families who lost their children during the former regime to visit the complex and review the available files and photos, in case their children are among the children currently receiving care.

It is worth noting that the former regime followed regional and sectarian criteria in selecting families allowed to care for the children of detainees. Bribes played a significant role in granting these rights and removing children from orphanages.

As for the children of Dr. Rania Al-Abbasi, no precise information has yet emerged regarding their whereabouts, and the Ministry is still working intensively to determine their fate.

Since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Social Affairs has appointed a management team for the "Lahn Al-Hayat" Orphanage, bringing it fully under the Ministry's supervision and direct responsibility.