Child protection authorities continue to search for young tsunami victims

The Probation and Child Care Services Department says 995 children were orphaned after losing both parents in the tsunami, and another 3,409 children lost either a mother or a father. Several unaccompanied children have also been identified.

Adoption of these children is possible if the interested parties follow the standard legal procedure. But media reports have said that after the tsunami tragedy, some children who went missing were probably taken by parties not following legal procedure.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has said the authorities will not take legal action against persons (relative or non-relative) or organisations if they have so far kept custody of children without registration. However, it requested that individuals and organisations now come forward to register these young tsunami victims.

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