TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) appealed to all parties to protect for children separated from parents due to severe earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

“All party has to assure each child is guarded during the disaster situation,” said Rita Pranawati, KPAI deputy chairman in a phone call with Tempo on Monday, October 8.

KPAI delivered the statement following hoax news regarding a foundation that offered adoption of children, victims of Palu quake. “We have to protect children from improper adoption including potential children abuse.”

KPAI recorded 67 lost children had been listed in Makassar Social Agency and 29 others in Child Protection Secretariat. “We are still identifying the children and searching for their family,” she added.

Rita mentioned that the children would be adopted if the family could not be found. “[But], we do not suggest it,” said Rita, adding that adoption was the final option under the monitoring of Social Agency.

Rita further said that children adoption was regulated in the government decree, Social Ministerial Decree, Directorate General Decree, and through the Child Adoption Permit Board (Tim Pipa) in the province and Social Minister for foreign parents. The adoption process would take two years.

AQIB SOFWANDI