3 illegal orphanages found in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Three fly-infested illegal orphanages have been discovered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – home to children in living in squalid and cramped conditions. They were all located in the low-income neighbourhood of Karantina, and all were unlicensed, with no running water, and low levels of hygiene.  Only two of the homes have electricity - camping gas stoves were used to cook food, with drinking water kept in large plastic containers. According to Saeed Al-Asmari – a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Affairs, local authorities were unaware of the existence of the homes. One nanny told how the orphanages were set up.  Zahra said, ““It all began 13 years ago, when an imam at a local mosque came to me with an abandoned baby girl he found outside the mosque”. She added, “He asked me to take care of her until he finds a solution to her problem. I fell in love with this baby and I named her Khadija. She is now helping me raise the other children I am given from nearby neighbourhoods.” 13-year-old Khadija, who was married off to a man in the neighbourhood, works to help other abandoned children in the homes. Zahra said the monthly rent of the facility is Saudi Riyal 700 (120 GBP), however she says she doesn’t worry about this.  She said, “The men in the neighbourhood pitch in every month to help me pay the rent.  They also help me with grocery shopping so I don’t have to worry about money". Most of the children speak Nigerian, and when they are old enough, Zahra said they are taught to speak Arabic and to learn basic employment skills. Most of the children are illegal immigrants and can only work as shopkeepers, builders, driver, or become day-labourers earning a basic wage. Zahra said, ““Women only work at the market, where they sell food that they cook or fruits or vegetables.  Other women work as maids and tailors, so we usually teach them those skills when they reach the age of six.” Poverty is the biggest factor why parents abandon children in the streets.  Zahra said the orphanages needed help, but they couldn’t contact authorities in fear of being sent back to Africa, and being put in jail.