Number of street kids on the rise

Number of street kids on the rise

SURABAYA, East Java: Minister of Social Affairs Justika
Sjarifuddin Baharsyah estimates the number of street children
across the country has reached 50,000 since the economic crisis
struck the country in July 1997.

"There were an estimated 3,000 street children in Jakarta
before 1997. Their number increased to about 10,000 months after
the crisis," Justika said donating Rp 3.5 billion to refugees who
fled ethnic unrest in Sambas, West Kalimantan, last year.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo said there were about 5,000
street children in the province, 2,000 of whom eke out a living
in the provincial capital of Surabaya.

"We have established 45 groups of volunteers to assist these
children," he said as quoted by Antara on Wednesday. (edt)