Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) in Oman has published important statistics and accomplishments from its operations in 2024, showcasing advancements in social welfare, family and community development, child protection, disability services, and volunteerism.
In the realm of child protection and juvenile services, the Child Protection Committees managed 2,973 cases involving abused children, while 563 juvenile cases were recorded, resulting in 32 juveniles being placed in rehabilitation and nine in guidance centres. Family Protection Services took in 72 abused children and received 1,246 calls on the Child Protection Helpline. The ministry also dealt with 27 human trafficking incidents, 17 cases of women being prevented from marriage, and nine cases of domestic abuse against women. The Psychological Counselling and Family Guidance Helpline responded to 1,390 calls from 2020 to 2024, with 567 of those calls occurring in 2024, and provided direct counselling to 2,786 individuals that year.
In terms of social assistance and empowerment, the ministry allocated OMR 11.986 million in support to 102,167 cases in 2024. Between 2020 and 2024, 1,635 individuals underwent employment-related training, with 234 trained in 2024 alone. The ministry created 675 job opportunities for vulnerable populations from 2020 to 2025, including 92 in 2024. Furthermore, 86 households received assistance to initiate home-based projects, with total funding amounting to OMR 64,585. Disability services reported that by the end of 2024, 64,087 individuals with disabilities had received ID cards, including 21,388 issued in 2024. The number of rehabilitation centres increased to 119, with 19 new centres established in 2024, benefiting 8,893 individuals. Since 2020, a total of 28,111 assistive devices have been distributed, with 10,795 provided in 2024.
In the realm of family and early childhood development, the total number of nurseries has reached 369, with 14 new facilities established in 2024, accommodating 10,082 children. The Child Care Centre and Youth Homes provided care for 74 and 77 children, respectively, while 1,074 children were placed in foster care. Regarding voluntary efforts, the ministry reported the existence of 68 Omani Women's Associations, 32 charitable organizations, and 64 volunteer teams. Assistance from social development committees and volunteer teams benefited 317,463 individuals, with over OMR 25.506 million allocated in 2024. The "Jood Charity" platform enabled contributions from 168,747 donors, raising OMR 2.552 million for various initiatives and OMR 174,213 for relief efforts. Additionally, the ministry secured OMR 802,440 in support from private and charitable organizations for its programs, which include services for individuals with disabilities, elder care, student support, and women's associations. These figures reflect the ministry's commitment to improving social welfare and empowering communities in Oman.
