Dozens of men and women on Friday flocked to Ataturk Hospital to adopt those Afghan babies who lost their parents in the aftermath of a deadly attack on a maternity ward on Tuesday. Two newborn babies were among the 24 people killed in an attack on the Dash-e-Barchi 100-bed hospital, which is home to a maternity clinic run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Verbal arguments were also heard in front of the hospital among those lining up to adopt the newborn babies.

Meanwhile, a women rights activist at the scene praised those who supported the children, but said that it would be better to give the children to their own families.

“Milk and the rest of the necessary stuff that you people brought for the newborn babies indicate your support for them and this shows your sense of care for these babies, but these babies need their real families. If they have lost their mothers but their fathers and rest of their family members are alive,” said Maryam Maarof, a women rights activist.

Tereena Latifi is an Afghan woman who married ten years ago and she never became a mother. She is among those who wants to adopt one of the babies.

“Today I came here to take responsibility for raising one of the babies as my own child so that the baby can have a bright future. I don’t have a child, but I want to adopt a baby as my son,” she said.

But, the family members of some of the babies also visited the hospital to take their babies.

“People are asking to give the babies to them, but no one will be given the babies if the babies have lost their mothers but they have others behind to take care of them,” said Hafizullah, the cousin of one of the babies who lost his mother.

“They (hospital) are not giving us our babies, they say that other people have come to adopt them, but we told them that we are not willing to give them the babies. Now they are not letting us go inside. But I have completed all necessary documents to take our newborn baby,” added Hafizullah.

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/dozens-ready-adopt-unclaimed-babies-after-attack