"Cases of disposal of infants often occur because of that the Court must actively prosecute cases like this, '' President Francisco Lú Olo Guterres said Saturday.

He also appealed to families and communities to support newborn mothers known to be struggling.

Newborn babies have been found abandoned in Lahane, Taibesi, Bebonuk, Tasi-Tolu, Hera and Santa Cruz in recent months. So far there have been no arrests in relation to the incidents and police are asking for help to unravel the identity of those that left them.

Investigations are targeting all people connected to the newborns and not just the mothers, lead investigator Faustino da Costa, General Commander of National Police said on Friday.

Authorities have called the abandoned babies a worrying trend. Bishop Dom Norberto Amaral told the Independente on Friday that the Catholic church “strongly condemned” those who abandoned their babies.

Bishop Norberto urged any young mother feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities to reach out to the church for support.

Anyone aware of someone who was pregnant and does not have their baby is urged to contact police.

Investigators also want to talk to anyone who say suspicious or unusual behaviour or someone discarding items in public during recent months.