DESK REVIEW ON POPULATIONS AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS issues such as: absconding household service work, those who may have unpaid loans, or those with outstanding warrants of arrest. DSWD staff interviewed said that there were 20 such cases with denied amnesty this year due to standing travel bans. According to interviews with Social Welfare Attachés, at the same time, there are cases where deportations from Kuwait take place with the parent(s) refraining from declaring that they have children resulting in the children being left behind. Sometimes the child is left in the care of another person who may have no contact with the parent(s) and locating the parents can be a real challenge.138 Generally, there is a negative incentive for undocumented pregnant women to come forward in Kuwait. There is an existing protocol that once a mother gives birth at the hospital, the hospital must report the birth of an undocumented child to the police. The parent may then be brought to a deportation center after giving birth. It was reported by the Social Welfare Attaché that there are also rumors that the child will be taken from them by the government if they come forward, but that this is not true, and the Embassy can assist with their situation, including assisting with airfare for the return to the Philippines if they do not have it. The Embassy maintains a positive working relationship with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ministry of Interior, which provides travel clearance in such cases. When the Embassy approaches the CID, the Embassy reports that all of the penalties can be waived: for example, if the child does not have an iqama for a year, they are normally supposed to pay PHP 100,000, but these fees are waived for repatriation to the Philippines. The Philippines’ ROB is recognized in Kuwait. Even in cases where a parent may have approached the Amnesty Center without documentation for their children, the Embassy reported being able to provide a ROB. However, it was also reported that there may be complications for the Embassy in instances where the details of the biological mother are not available. It was noted that there are four children in such circumstances.139 The Social Welfare Attaché noted that details on the biological mother may be particularly difficult to ascertain where many years have passed since the birth. Excerpt from initial consultations with Social Welfare Attachés and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 17 June 2020. 138 As an example, it was shared by Social Welfare Attachés that two children were deported to the Philippines without a ROB. The affidavits executed by the custodians were not accepted, citing PSA guidelines, and there was no information on the parents. Therefore, a ROB could not be completed. At the same time, the adoption process cannot begin without a ROB. The case remains pending at the time of publication of this report. 139 UNHCR / April 2021 45