On 11/1, the Quang Ninh Department of Health announced it had instructed Cam La Pagoda in Phong Coc ward to remove and cease posting videos and images of children used for charitable appeals.

As a religious and historical site, not a social assistance facility, the pagoda is not licensed to care for or raise children. Therefore, the Department of Health has directed the pagoda to return any children not yet adopted to their families. If a transfer cannot be arranged, the Phong Coc Ward People's Committee will process the children's placement at the Quang Ninh Social Assistance Center.

The pagoda posted images of children under its care online to solicit donations. *Screenshot*

Responding to the authorities' request, Venerable Thich Giac Tam, abbot of Cam La Pagoda, stated that in 2024, when Typhoon Yagi made landfall, Cam La Pagoda collapsed. The authorities subsequently approved a reconstruction project for the pagoda, with an estimated cost of 24 billion dong from socialized funding. Due to the need for socialized funding, he began soliciting donations. "The authorities demanded that I not use images of the children, which I will comply with, but I still need to fundraise to rebuild the pagoda", he said.

He also asserted that he would continue to record and share images of himself and the children living at the pagoda because it conveys a positive message, not to solicit donations. "If my and the children's videos and images violated community standards, Facebook and TikTok would have already taken action. I have done nothing illicit and will bear full responsibility if I am wrong", he added.

Regarding the children at the pagoda, he stated that procedures for adopting 4 orphaned children have been completed, and arrangements are being made to send the remaining 7 children to their families. All children were abandoned or sent to the pagoda by parents or relatives facing difficult circumstances. Some children's parents are in prison for many years, and their families will not accept them.

Previously, Cam La Pagoda received attention and support from many individuals and organizations. However, some people accused the pagoda of exploiting images of the children on social media to solicit donations. The Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee then instructed the Department of Health to form an inspection team and address the issue.

Le Tan