by Sumon Corraya

More than 95 per cent are into substance abuse, about half under the age of 10.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - In Bangladesh, about a million children live in the streets, half under the age of ten. And about 95 per cent of them also take drugs.

"Everyone should be concerned about this for the sake of future generations," said Brother Ronald Drahozal, director of the APON Rehabilitation Centre, who spoke yesterday at a conference organised by the Social and Economic Enhancement Programme (SEEP) attended by about a hundred representatives of 18 local NGOs.

APON began small, but with the help of donors and volunteers, it has become one of Bangladesh's most important drug rehabilitation facilities.

"Everyone, from staff to volunteers, has worked hard not only on our rehabilitation programme, but also on helping people fully develop themselves," Brother Ronald explained.

In fact, "Over the years," he added, "we have seen that getting out of drugs improves one's personality."

For Abdul al Mamun, the meeting's main speaker, "More than a million street children are at risk in Bangladesh; half of them in Dhaka".

What is more "Some are also misused by political parties;" in fact, some have been used "to carry bombs." Last year for example, "a total of 37 children died during political unrest".

 

• bangladesh
• street
• children
• kids
• crisis
• drug
• abuse