This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7283243.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Chad's 'orphans' returning home | Chad's 'orphans' returning home |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Chad has given permission for 103 children who were caught up in a trafficking scandal to be reunited with their families, Unicef says. | Chad has given permission for 103 children who were caught up in a trafficking scandal to be reunited with their families, Unicef says. |
Six French aid workers were convicted of trying to abduct them, describing them as orphans from war-torn Darfur. | Six French aid workers were convicted of trying to abduct them, describing them as orphans from war-torn Darfur. |
The children have been staying in an orphanage in Chad, and are to be handed over to relatives in the coming days. | The children have been staying in an orphanage in Chad, and are to be handed over to relatives in the coming days. |
Their return home has been delayed until Chadian officials could indentify the correct guardians, Unicef says. | Their return home has been delayed until Chadian officials could indentify the correct guardians, Unicef says. |
The UN agency said the French charity involved, Zoe's Ark, had left very little paperwork about the children's identities. | The UN agency said the French charity involved, Zoe's Ark, had left very little paperwork about the children's identities. |
Jean-Francois Basse, a spokesman for Unicef in Chad, said that although some of the children were orphans, they were able to locate the guardians for most of the children. | |
"Out of the 103 children we were able to locate those who were in charge of the children for 97 of them," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | |
The children hail from Chadian regions close to the country's border with Sudan. | |
Compensation | Compensation |
The scandal emerged when it was revealed that most of the 21 girls and 82 boys were from Chad, and had relatives who were still alive. | The scandal emerged when it was revealed that most of the 21 girls and 82 boys were from Chad, and had relatives who were still alive. |
During their trial in the Chadian capital N'Djamena last year, the aid workers said they had been tricked into thinking the children were from the troubled Sudanese province of Darfur. | During their trial in the Chadian capital N'Djamena last year, the aid workers said they had been tricked into thinking the children were from the troubled Sudanese province of Darfur. |
The six have since been returned to France to serve out their jail terms. | The six have since been returned to France to serve out their jail terms. |
The case led to several anti-French protests in Chad, a former French colony. | The case led to several anti-French protests in Chad, a former French colony. |
The French army last month helped government forces fight off a rebel attack on N'Djamena. | The French army last month helped government forces fight off a rebel attack on N'Djamena. |
Chadian President Idriss Deby says he will consider pardoning the aid workers on condition the children's families receive compensation. | Chadian President Idriss Deby says he will consider pardoning the aid workers on condition the children's families receive compensation. |