Orphans need more attention [Archives:2007/1039/Opinion]
Yasser Al-Mayasi
[email protected]
Dr. Abdullah Saif, who works in a district of Sa'ada, is one of the most active and successful physicians providing medical services and assistance to residents in remote areas. Through his work as a physician, he has established good relations with citizens, thereby earning him both reputation and popularity.
His success is attributed to great patience; however, he attained such success and overcame numerous challenges facing his career.
Saif lost his parents at an early age and lived as an orphan, but his strong will and determination propelled him to continue his studies and work hard until graduating from Sana'a University's Faculty of Medicine, thereby providing a noble and successful example for other orphans.
Saif's story may be similar to numerous orphans, who enjoyed limited care but reached various achievements. Marking Arab Orphan Day on Friday, April 6 is considered a significant occasion to open the files of this group (orphans) and raise numerous questions about them, particularly if we acknowledge that commemorating them is inevitable and can't be compensated if forgotten or neglected.
As far as I'm concerned, celebrating the occasion in the form of speeches and addresses without real tangible work will do nothing for this social group, which suffers severe poverty, despair, homelessness and merciless communities. Today's numbers of orphans in developing countries have gotten larger and larger, warning of a complicated social problem that's difficult to solve. The state of orphans in developing countries is deteriorating and going from bad to worse.
Due to mysterious and ambiguous situations, as well as high unemployment rates, orphans are enlisting in professional gangs that commit serious crimes, which concerned parties are finding difficult to control and deal with. Orphans have turned to revenge against the society that left them to live in constant suffering and sadness. Over time, they feel they will lead a better life if society provides their necessities.
Various studies and research confirm that orphans are more sensitive to the impacts affecting their life than other social groups; however, they may become more energetic and fond of their society if they find someone to sympathize with them and alleviate their sufferings.
In developing countries like Yemen, poor economic situations create negative impacts and hinder efforts to enable better living standards for orphans. Mismanagement of resources helps create social disorder resulting in numerous crises that deny orphans and other social groups their legal rights.
Orphan care by authorities and NGOs in Yemen is considered a growing experience still needing much support and promotion, while those interested in orphans' issues should be backed to achieve a better future in order to rescue them from the risks of life. Good management is bound to better distribute financial assistance, often wasted due to randomness and lack of planning, to orphans equally.
Today, only influential social figures can help create limitless support and assistance for orphans, whereas members of the press, having faith in the nobility of their mission, can play an effective role in persuading society to sympathize with orphans and help them lead easier lives.
Yasser Al-Mayasi is a Yemeni journalist specialized in children and business.
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[archive-e:1039-v:14-y:2007-d:2007-04-05-p:opinion]
