Europaworld 18/1/2002 Home Street Home

KARACHI: Grinding poverty, powerlessness and a sense of desperation marks the life of millions. But for the 'street children,' here in Pakistan, it is even worse. Life is invariably horrible for these children.

	Born into families with little or no income or property these children grow up hungry; they have less chance of any education or receiving health care if they fall ill. From any early age they have to work, either at home or outside.
The process of globalisation has widened the income gap between the rich and the poor in many third world countries. Frequently the poor have not benefited at all, and sometimes they have become even poorer. Globalisation has thus increased their miseries. Coping with the ever increasing prices of basic necessities, such as food, shelter, health and transport has made life a burden to many poor Pakistanis. The lucky ones have work to go to, but unemployment rates in low-income communities are increasing, creating acute further hardship.
	It is the children from families in these low-income groups that suffer the most at these times of economic stress. Numbers of them, unable or unwilling to put up with life at home, run away in search of peace and money. These are the 'street children' and their new homes are on the pavements, in the parks, under bridges and in abandoned buildings. They spend their days sniffing glue to stave off hunger and the memories of their beloved family members. At night, many can be found asleep on the city pavements with other children like them. The streets are their beds even in winter season. The lucky ones may have a piece of blanket, but most street children warm their bodies simply by pressing themselves close to one another.

Without adult protection, or any safe shelter, these 'street children' are exposed to many brutalities. They find themselves victims of violence, sexual exploitation, drug and chemical addictions and violations of their human rights. Surprisingly, little in Pakistan is known about these 'street children.' Very little research has been carried out on and exact figures of the number of children on street are not available. They are perhaps the most neglected category of people in the state of Pakistan, forgotten not only by the government, but even by aid and charity workers and development-related agencies. One day this may change, but for the moment the photographs tell their own story.