Am i interfering unreasonably

[Amai]

A friend has left her husband to go to another country, and left the kids too. She left while the dad was away at work in another town and the kids 10 and 4 were in the house for a couple of days. A cleaner came in during the day and the land lord was close at hand but uninformed of the mothers decision to leave. The kids had to stay alone in the house at night for at least three nights which is how long the dad took to find out his wife had left. So as friends me and some others offered to take the kids when he went to work, today i found his kids had been sleeping alone again for two nights. I told him i would have them over and he agreed and I took them. Has he got his head screwed on right?

Please call the police/social services, this is ringing so many alarm bells! Without being rude/insensitive, is the 4 year old not talking because of development delays due to a disability? If not this screams of serious prior neglect, apologies if I am v off the mark with this.

We live in Zambia, not sure if there is such a thing as social services functioning. Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt but this is the second time I have come to their aid. My interfering is strong in this one. But I am glad you all feel the same.

So are you going to call the police?

That poor 10 year old what a weight of responsibility with a mum that has left, a dad that hasnt cancelled work to be with them -when their mum has vanished -or to stay home to organise work. Both of the children will be missing both their parents, 4 year old not able to vocalise it, 10 year old trying to comfort when no adult at home.
Those kids must be terrified. No, the dad hasn’t got his head screwed on right! Get some help for those kids!

So.... call the police?!

You need to contact Zambia’s department of social welfare as they are vulnerable children.

You need to call the police NOW

I'm quite shocked that you haven't already

No I am not calling the police, kids are asleep in my home and the dad returns tomorrow. I spoke to the wife she is alive albeit a bit fucking dopey and selfish. I told her about the kids and she obv spoke to the hubby about it. So he got shirty with me and said why are you concerning her with this and please don't.

They live in a reasonably secure gated complex next to other houses but still crazy to leave them.

I knew you weren't in the UK so therefore most of us won't know the rules in zambia and should just let the OP crack on.

So mum thinks nothing of leaving kids for 3 days alone.
Dad thinks nothing about leaving kids for 2 days alone.
Other grownups (landlord,cleaner,friends) are aware but none ring SS or the police.

Unless the cleaner lives on the premises something is really fucked up in this whole scenario.

So what are you going to do?

Your as awful as the parents if you don’t do everything you can to stop those poor kids being neglected again. Call the police or the department of social welfare.

Do i tell him I think its wrong to leave the kids like that or do I just hope he doesn't do it again. I have offered to have them over but he just never called. Also do I ask him what the long term plan is or again do I keep my mouth shut. He is Dutch and a bit full of himself not to be racist. A year ago I asked him if he wasn't concerned that the boy could not talk yet and he almost bit my head off.

You don’t keep your mouth shut you report them and let the professionals talk to them both.

Seriously OP?! this thread is making my head hurt.

And don’t private message me saying I’m getting personal if your going to ignore perfectly sensible advice. Report them.

Ok, so you're not in the UK. I have no idea how things work in Zambia, but I'm guessing if they live in a gated complex they can afford someone who
To watch the kids when they're away (for what ever reason).

No, you don't hold back; anything could happen to two young children left alone. You've offered to have the children, you need to be very firm in pointing out someone needs to have the children.

Does the four year old go to school/nursery? The four year old not yet talking is lower priority than them being left alone at the moment.

Realistically speaking there are no professionals here. If he were to go to jail what good would that do anyone? Perhaps I should be brave and say he cant take the kids back because he keeps leaving them. Or if he does it again i will report him to the authorities. He is a work colleague of my husbands, but he is very strange.

I’ve told you twice. There is a department of social welfare. If I could fin that with a google search so can you op

And you can’t just keep someone’s children unless you want to go to jail yourself ffs.

Ok I'm out

There is a 4 year old non-verbal child being looked after by a traumatised 10 year old in a house with no adults and you can't be bothered to call anyone in authority who can either help in the short term, or speak to the parent about why this is unacceptable

Because he had a go at you previously

I don't know how you can live with yourself.

Those poor kids. They'll grow up one day and wonder how anyone could sink so low as to see their situation and do nothing because they wanted to preserve the status quo and social order.
Sickening

Sorry I don't care if you have a posting history, I don't know anyone who would respond to this like the op

Those poor children ☹️

Feefeetrixabelle my only dealings with the SS have been friends telling me how corrupt they are. We are a very under funded country with the top dogs stealing left right and centre.

If they are in a gated community - they can afford a nanny at a minimum.

This is truly shocking stuff, a 10 year old cannot mind a 4 year old.

WTAF are the parents thinking? They need reporting even if that means a conviction or jail time.

what idiot thinks this is appropriate????