UKRAINE: Street Children Lost amid Political Turmoil

There’s a hidden segment of Ukrainian society that is receiving little attention in the midst of the nation’s  political and economic clamor – its tens of thousands of street children.You won’t see them because they find sanctuary in the basements of abandoned buildings or crouch next to hot water pipes in a system of tunnels running underneath city streets.

To stave off feelings of cold and hunger, they sniff glue. The resulting “high” may offer temporary escape from the misery of their existence, but it can’t give them what they need most – the joy of a loving family, food, and shelter.

Most of these kids are “social orphans” who have at least one parent at home. Tired of living in an environment of neglect or physical abuse, they prefer to take their chances surviving as best they can on the streets where at least they enjoy freedom.

According to UNICEF, in Kiev alone there are some 20,000 homeless children. While the true figure is difficult to determine, more than 100,000 boys and girls are estimated to live on the streets in cities throughout Ukraine.

» Full story reports on Christian Aid’s ministry to street children.

» See also In Their Own Voices, a five-minute clip produced by Serious Pictures (YouTube) and this interactive map, Human Trafficking Patterns Mapped in Asia (IMB Asia Stories).