Displaced child taken home by government
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A displaced native child of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China went back to the region's capital Urumqi on Monday evening as the first person to return home following the regional government's pledge in late April to bring back local children who are wandering in other parts of the country.
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Arkbel Usuf and another Uygur girl are ready to enjoy their dinner at the Urumqi SOS Children's Village in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Monday. |
The 10-year-old Uygur boy, Arkbel Usuf, was taken by a relative a month ago to Harbin, a city in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, to work in the "roast lamb business".
"Since my uncle couldn't finish that business, we strayed around the city for nearly a month," the boy recalled. "He left me alone at the railway station last week. I couldn't find him.
"I was frightened and cried loudly for nearly an hour. Two policemen found me and saved me."
Police spent four days in vain looking for the boy's uncle and then sent the boy to Xinjiang by train.
During a welcome dinner on Monday evening, Shiedat, a teacher at the Urumqi SOS Children's Village whom Arkbel and other students there consider to be a "new mother", prepared traditional dishes for her "youngest son".
"I made mansaf and 'big plate chicken' for my son," Shiedat said. "He liked them very much."
"He didn't talk much last night," said Gulinar, the 16-year-old "new sister" of Arkbel. "But I am sure we'll get on well with each other."
The boy, who had little hope of attending school where his family lives in Kuqa county in southern Xinjiang, said he felt happy to be in the Children's Village in Urumqi.
"At my new home here, I have a chance to get schooling," Arkbel explained.
"I miss my family and my mom. I hate my uncle."
The boy said he has a big family in Kuqa, consisting of parents, two sisters and grandparents. But he doesn't know his home address.
The regional civil affairs department said it's trying its best to find the boy's family. If successful in that quest, it will take steps to make his return easier.
