Parents forcing their children to work, while activists suggest shelters to housing children

Latakia – North-Press Agency

Begging is is one of most disturbing phenomena in the society as the governments responsible for any country, as it is spread in many forms in any country in this world. Despite its decline during the last two years due to the return of many of the internally displaced people into their places, it is still present in the streets of Latakia, same as any other city in Syria where begging phenomenon spread during the war years.

And begging has many forms, such as asking for money, food or even an overnight stay, because they really need that, because of the conditions of war, poverty, or default by governments. However, the exploitation of children to make money is the most dangerous type of this phenomenon, where these children are forbidden from their studies, their future and their social position.

In this regard, North-Press tried to monitor this phenomenon in the streets of Latakia, but it is not that easy, as every attempt to monitor and talk with these people to find out the reason that led them to be on the streets, they were abstaining and were quickly disappearing.

After several attempts, North-Press came across two underage sisters, Abeer and Nour. "Despite having a school to attend, my father forces us and my five siblings to do this work," said Abeer, adding that she was arrested twice by the juvenile police responsible for controlling this phenomenon, but her father was asking her back to the street.

While the other sister, Nour, said that she has to beg for those inside cafes and restaurants to get some money, as she along with her sister start doing this since the early morning hours and do not return home until late at night, they have to sleep outside if they didn't get the required amount of money, otherwise, they'd be abused by their father.

Regarding this phenomenon, human rights activist Rami Vitaly told North-Press: "The begging phenomenon is not new. It existed before the war and has been strengthened during the displacement of thousands of people into the city. Although the government and humanitarian organizations tried to provide assistance, but some people have taken the advantage of having a large number of children and investing in them by forming groups for begging.”

Vitaly added that this phenomenon brings other phenomena worse than begging with it, such as cases of inhaling an adhesive materials, of which were bought and put in bags and inhaled to turn into addiction and danger that affects these children, no less dangerous than drug use.

The Human rights activist Rami Vitaly confirmed that they have managed in helping and saving a good number of children in the streets of Latakia, but they still need high-level sheltering centers to contribute to raising their intellectual and educational level, and to put an end to the use of children for making money, adding: "Unfortunately, In many cases the parents of those children are the ones who are using them."