Two children who went into hiding after facing deportation to Armenia have been found and taken to a ‘safe address’, Dutch media said on Monday evening.

The children have lived in the Netherlands for nine years but have not qualified for the government’s amnesty for child refugees. Armina Hambartsjumian, the mother of Lily (11) and Howick (12), was sent back to Armenia a week ago.

The children were born in Russia and have never been to Armenia. Nor do they speak the language. The children are now under the supervision of Nidos, an independent foundation which looks after the interests of child refugees who are in the Netherlands without their parents.

The organisation said the children are doing well, given the circumstances.

The justice ministry said in a statement that the children will not now automatically be deported but that it is in their interests to be reunited with their mother. ‘If Nidos agrees, we will start the process of making this a reality,’ the spokesman said.