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)