OIC to protect tsunami orphans

OIC to protect tsunami orphans

KUALA LUMPUR: The world's biggest grouping of Islamic nations,
the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), has established an
alliance to rescue children orphaned by the recent tsunamis from
foreign influences, local media said on Saturday.

The OIC Alliance to Rescue Child Victims of Tsunami aims to
protect the orphans from "illegal foreign elements", said OIC
Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

"We want these girls and boys to be well looked after in their
land within their own cultural and social environments," he was
quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Reports emerged earlier this month that missionary groups
would place Acehnese tsunami orphans in Christian children's
homes, drawing protests from the world's largest Muslim country.

"The government has, from the beginning, been wary of attempts
by certain groups to subvert orphans in Aceh under the pretext of
humanitarian aid. There are regulations against such practices,"
foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa had said.

Ihsanoglu said the OIC would also launch another campaign to
collect donations and hoped to mobilise people to go to Aceh and
assist victims in rebuilding their mosques and homes. -- AFP