DUBAI // Authorities and educators yesterday urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children always have adequate supervision following the recent deaths of two young boys who were left unattended.
Officials, seeking to hold parents accountable, have also warned that caregivers can be jailed or fined for leaving children unwatched if the lack of supervision leads to a child's death or permanent disability.
"Parents have to consciously find out and be aware what their children are doing in their absence. Most parents usually do that or have a stand-by arrangement," said Vandana Marwaha, the principal of the Delhi Private School, Sharjah.
The twelve-year-old Daniel Kuriakose, who was a pupil at the school, died alone on Sunday after accidentally hanging himself on a karate belt. His mother had been just minutes away from returning home.
Daniel's school will urge parents at an open house next month to closely monitor their young children. "We will address parents on the need for a vigilant system at the open house meet," Mrs Marwaha said.
Daniel's accident followed that of a five-year-old Dubai boy who died 10 days ago when he fell from an eighth-floor window. His distraught mother threw herself to her death from the same window moments later.
A Dubai prosecutor, who did not wish to be named, said yesterday that the five-year-old's mother could have faced up to three years in prison or a Dh10,000 fine had she not died.
"The one responsible is the care giver in the place of the accident," the prosecutor said. "For example, the nanny, the maid or the school attendant who deal with children will be held responsible if the children, while in their care, were in danger or injured."
In the wake of these deaths, Mrs Marwaha said the Government should set up day care centres to take care of children while their parents were at work. She and several parents agreed that mothers and fathers must be more responsible, but they also said that Government schools should provide care for children after school hours.
"There is no social support especially in the UAE," Mrs Marwaha said.
"We need to address the issue on a larger scale. The government should look at providing a day-care system. The confidence of parents would be higher that way."
She also said that it was not possible for many parents to afford nannies or other individual care.
Because of stringent Government regulations, logistical and infrastructure restrictions, schools could not provide full-time day care, either.
Some parents said Government-run establishments would be a welcome solution.
"It would be ideal if they were available," said Stanley Mathews, the father of a 14-year-old boy.
His son, who shows features of autism, needs constant care and attention. "My wife never leaves my son alone," he said, adding that 15 was an acceptable age limit to leave children unattended.
"It is difficult to define an age limit," said Dr Gowri Ramanathan, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant. "Some children mature faster. There is not enough support for parents. There is a lack of nurseries in offices or hospitals."
Dr Ramanathan, who is also the mother of a three-year-old boy, said she has a full-time nanny to watch her son. She said that extra-curricular and non-academic activities after school could help "engage children in a healthy manner" until their parents returned home.
She also stressed the need for day-care centres and youth clubs for children of all ages.
Last month, the five-year-old Iranian boy fell to his death from an apartment window in Jumeirah Lake Towers while his mother was at the building entrance, waiting for the school bus with her 14-year-old daughter. Police said the boy had climbed onto a table near the window.
The mother had rushed back to the apartment after seeing him dangling from the open window and, minutes later, jumped to her death when she was unable to save him.
In Sharjah yesterday, police continued to investigate the case of Daniel, the Grade 6 pupil whose neck was caught in a karate belt on Sunday as he jumped from a chair that had been placed next to the door.
His parents, who were expected to leave last night for his burial in India, believed that the knotted end of the belt became tangled on the door knob, wrapped around Daniel's neck, pulled him backward, and strangled him.
It is unclear whether Daniel's parents will be charged with a crime related to his death.
Under law, a person who endangers the life of a child less than seven years of age can be imprisoned from one month to three years, or can be fined up to Dh10,000. The punishment can be levied if the caregiver has left the child without proper supervision, resulting in the permanent disability or death of the child.
In the case of a child less than 15 years of age, a caregiver who has left a child unattended can be imprisoned for two years if the child suffers permanent disability or death.
pkannan@thenational.ae
salamir@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Yasin Kakande
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
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7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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9.30pm: Forever Young
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
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Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi