Some 8,230 Saudis from 2,358 families are stranded in 32 countries, according to Tawfiq Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem, chairman of the Saudi Charitable Society for the Welfare of the Saudi Families Abroad (Awasser). He told local daily Al-Madina that the five main countries with the largest number of stranded Saudis are Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Bahrain. Most of those stranded abroad are children of Saudi men. "When a child of a Saudi man from a foreign woman contacts us, we write to the Interior Ministry which directs the concerned departments to take the necessary action," he said. According to Suwailem, under the directives of the ministry, the governorate will summon the father to finalize the issue. "The majority of Saudis have recognized their children but punitive measures will be taken against those who refuse to do so," he said. As many as 28 families consisting of 60 members have been repatriated and are now living in the Kingdom as normal Saudi citizens, Suwailem said. "We make field visits to these countries to look for Saudi families. We can also be contacted on our website www.awasser.org.sa or through our email [email protected] or FAX 00966 1124 02349," Suwailem said. He said Awasser extends all kinds of help to stranded Saudis. "We help them to come back to their home country and assist them in obtaining the required papers including the national ID," he added. The chairman warned Saudis traveling abroad against temporary marriages which may result in children without identities. "We focus on the Saudis who have strong justifications to stay abroad for a long time and those who are poor and destitute," he said. Suwailem said Awasser will receive the returnees at the airport and provide them with temporary accommodation until apartments are rented and furnished for them for a period of six months.
