Street children given less attention: Survey

AT least 80 out of the 100 children who beg and sell on the streets of Port Moresby have a parent according to a survey, an official says.
Youth coordinator from the National Capital District Commission Rex Buka said the survey spearheaded by National Capital District Commission and World Vision in 2015 shows that these children fall under most vulnerable, neglected and poor household categories.
“Most of the children have guardians but they are not really giving them the attention, they are not really responsible for their wellbeing,” Buka said.
“We want to identify their whereabouts and restore them to their parents but to do that it is very challenging.”
Buka said the most vulnerable children were those whose quality of life and ability to fulfil their potential was most affected by extreme deprivation and violations of their lives and often lived in catastrophic situations and relationship.
“This are the ones that they do not know the parents’ whereabouts,” he said.
“So they are lost kids, do not have any hope.”
This includes children whose guardians do not want to care for them.
Neglected children are those who are deprived of a child’s basic needs when an adult carer has the means to provide for needs as in health, education and safe living conditions.
Buka said this included children being neglected because of marriage breakup or those not monitored on a day-to-day basis.
“Maybe lack of parents’ presence, or the parents are busy gambling.”
And children from poor households are those whose parents or care givers cannot afford basic needs for their children.