Koshai Tisso Nadeem
The Minister of Gender Child and Social Welfare in Western Bahr El Ghazal State, Elizabeth Mario, says that there is an increase in the number of street children in Wau,
Hon. Elizabeth expressed worries about the increase in the number of street children and said the children stay without their families, causing danger to the town.
She says this came due to economic hardship causing high prices and children leave their homes in the morning seeking food to survive.
Mario Ali explained that the percentage of boys on the street is greater than girls, and their ages range between 6 to 7 years.
She added that the Ministry of Gender and Partners is planning to train these children through vocational training.
She also said that adult children between 17 and 18 years old will be enrolled as soldiers for the benefit of the state.
Ali confirmed that Al-Rehab headquarters will be opened so that the children can live there, so that they can provide them with food and drink together with their partners.
She also added that the Ministry of Engineering Affairs donated one of the government houses to be an orphanage house because most of these children are orphans.
It is remarkable that two years ago, the Ministry of Child Gender and Social Welfare gathered street children in Wau Stadium to eat a meal for one day, to discuss with them and find out the reasons for their being on the streets.
She points out that the majority of these children are from different states, and they indicated that the situation could be better in Wau.
In her final remarks, the Minister explained that many of them are from responsible families and the rate of increase currently is greater compared to previous years.
The Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare made these statements to Voice of Hope Radio on Tuesday morning in her office in Wau.