According to the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, the number of homeless children in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has increased dramatically since the war.
It says it is working with other humanitarian organizations to try to get Iraqi children off the capital's streets and into safe homes. There are too few facilities to help most children.
Children ply the streets of Baghdad trying to sell fruit or newspapers to passing motorists. Others can be seen around the Palestine Hotel begging for a few dinars from foreigners or sniffing bags of glue.
The UN children's agency got the authorities to develop a special facility for such kids, called "Rahma" or Mercy Center. UNICEF spokesman in Baghdad Geoffrey Keele said that while the agency does not support the institutionalization of children, it has opened what he terms drop-in centers to provide kids with a short-term safe place. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
