DAMMAM — The Ministry of Social Affairs is relocating the orphans living in its social education home in Dammam to Hail where they will be housed in a new building donated by a Saudi businessman, local daily Al-Watan reported. The sources said the ministry resorted to the use of force after a number of the orphans, who are under seven years of age, refused to go to Hail and preferred to stay in Dammam. There are 22 male and female orphans living in the ministry's social education home. The ministry decided to shift all the orphans, seven years old or younger, from Dammam to Hail. It plans to foster out the older orphans among families in the Eastern Province and will close down its orphanage there. Saudi businessman Dr. Nasser Al-Rasheed had donated to the ministry a three-story building to accommodate orphans. The building also includes a cultural and sports clubs. As the current number of orphans in Hail is low and the building is spacious, the ministry decided to shift orphans from various parts of the Kingdom to the northern city. The building, which is now occupied by about 45 orphans, can comfortably accommodate more than 150 children. A team of specialists from the ministry is currently working on the logistics to move them to another city. Some complained said this was not a helpful move because the young orphans were accustomed to their environment in the Eastern Province.
