Minister: 291 children yet to be identified

The Minister of Family and Social Affairs Derya Yanik said that 1362 children are currently registered with the ministry, 369 of these children have been identified and handed over to their families while giving information about the current situation of the children who were harmed by the earthquake and who are currently away from their parents.

"The number of children cared for in the hospital is 792, and the number of children we have brought to Ministry facilities is 201. We have identified 1071 of these children. We have not yet been able to establish the identity of 291 of our children, but investigations continue," she said.

Yanik said that the Ministry promotes the foster care system, but it had certain procedures.

"First of all, we must identify the children. Secondly, if family members are alive, we have to bring them together. It is not possible for us to do anything without finding their families and establishing their identities. Sometimes our citizens offer periodic care. We are very grateful to them, but we have the opportunity to take care of all our children,” she said.

The ministry announced last week that in two days after two major earthquakes, 95,000 people applied to be foster families for children rescued from under the rubble and in need of protection and care.