As little as one week ago no one could say how many children were orphaned during the three days of the horrible attack in Beslan. We knew that the total was significant and being constantly updated. The toll stands at 26 orphaned children and the process is still ongoing.
    The list contains names like Tamerlan and Suzanna Chezhemov, whose mother and father were killed. Sabina, Artur and Inal Nayfonova whose mother will never again take them to school. Timur and Hetag Tamayev along with Yelena Yesenova are also orphaned, having lost their parents. By some miracle, 4-year-old Georgi Koniyev, who lost not only his parents but also his grandparents, survived. Schoolteachers left 6 children orphaned.
    
    What lies ahead for these newly orphaned children? We addressed this question to the Head Specialist for Motherhood and Childhood Affairs in the Ministry of Education for the North Ossetia region, Mrs. Lyubov Hugayeva. Mrs. Hugayeva stated that necessary documents are being gathered to make official the guardianship of children under the care of their immediate relatives. This will allow for appropriate compensation and payment of insurance benefits. Mrs. Hugayeva has asked local authorities to assign an additional specialist to help in recreating documents and to help get this process through the courts.
    
    In some instances fathers who never showed interest in a child’s life prior to September 1st are now claiming parental rights. These cases must be considered individually so as not to put the child at risk. Eight children were already orphans before the Beslan attack. They are also entitled to financial aid. In order to help these children, whose lives are before them, personal accounts have been opened. Fourteen accounts have already been opened with each child receiving 9,500 rubles.
    
    Where did this money come from?
    
    Mrs. Hugayeva related that on September 15th, Frank Foundation Child Assistance International, headed by its President, Dr. Nina Kostina, visited North Ossetia to deliver humanitarian aid. VCR’s, microwaves, TV’s, vacuum cleaners, cooking utensils, clothes, vitamins and toys were distributed by Frank Foundation employees. Toys and TV’s were delivered to the hospital where many injured children still remain. Employees met personally with people affected by the attack and shared their pain and grief. The Frank Foundation also donated 165,000 rubles, 134,000 rubles of which were transferred to the children’s personal accounts. The rest of the money was spread out between children and caretakers.