Four orphaned children in Quang Tri need support

Cao Thi Su, born in 1971, now cares for her four grandchildren: Cao Dinh Thanh San, born in 2015, Dinh Nam Duong, born in 2019, Dinh Quang Vu, born in 2022, and Dinh Hai Bang, born in 2024.

Sitting quietly outside her home, the grieving grandmother appeared exhausted after days of mourning the loss of her daughter.

According to Su, her daughter, identified as C.T.S., born in 1995, married D.X.T., born in 1997, more than a decade ago. The couple had four children together before their relationship deteriorated and eventually ended in divorce.

Earlier in May, relatives discovered S. dead at her home with multiple injuries on her body. Two days later, T. was also found dead in a forested area of Kim Phu Commune.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, but the tragedy has left a devastating void in the lives of the four children.

As the eldest sibling, young San has quietly taken on responsibilities far beyond his age, helping his grandmother care for the younger children, feeding them and comforting them when they cry for their mother.

Relatives said the boy has become noticeably quieter since the deaths.

“Sometimes he stands silently in front of his mother’s altar for a very long time,” a family member said.

“I miss my mother very much, but she will never come back to us again,” San whispered softly, struggling to hold back tears.

Local residents described S. as a hardworking and gentle woman who raised her four children alone after the divorce.

Without stable employment, she relied on casual labour in nearby fields and plantations to support the family.

“Life was difficult, but she always tried her best for her children. No one imagined her life would end so painfully,” said Cao Thi Hai, a relative.

Hoang Thanh Binh, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Kim Phu Commune, said both Su and her daughter belonged to poor households in the area.

The children’s home had been built with government support in 2025, and Su moved in to care for the children after her daughter’s death.

Local authorities and social organisations have assisted the family with funeral arrangements and are seeking additional support to help stabilise the children’s lives.

“What concerns us most is that all four children are still very young and their future remains uncertain,” Binh said.

“The grandmother’s circumstances are also extremely difficult, so caring for them in the long term will be a major challenge. We are working on plans to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain stable living conditions.”