AFRICA/DJIBOUTI - The pandemic increases the vulnerability of street children: the Church offers hospitality

Wednesday, 27 January 2021 caritas pandemic development street children

Caritas Djibouti

DJIBOUTI

2024-01-13
Resignation and appointment of bishop of Djibouti

2022-10-10
New cycle of violence? after the assault on a military base with the death of 7 soldiers

2021-12-15
The small but significant presence of a Church in dialogue

2021-07-03
Consolata missionaries alongside disabled children to "promote the dignity and integral development of the person"

2021-02-26
Mutual solidarity, rediscovery of fundamental human values: Christians and the pandemic

2021-01-27
The pandemic increases the vulnerability of street children: the Church offers hospitality

Djibouti (Agenzia Fides) - The shelter for street children in Djibouti, organized by the country's Caritas to reduce the the threat of minors living on the streets in connection with pandemics and offers protection to 80 minors between 7 and 18 years of age.
This is confirmed by the Bishop of Djibouti, Mgr. Giorgio Bertin. "From 3 April to 31 June 2020 - he writes - 80 street children were accommodated overnight in the accommodation of the Caritas Djibouti center. From November 1 to December 31, 2020, the minors also used the facility during the day. All were tested for Covid-19, and in compliance with the containment measures provided".
The children were given three meals a day and an afternoon snack, as well as clothing and hygiene products. "During their free time, the guests were able to do sports and had a video room available - says the bishop. They were also engaged in regular educational activities, which included language courses (English and French) and manual workshops. During Ramadan, they had the opportunity to cook and prepare their iftar, the evening dinner"
"The main difficulties encountered during the lockdown were mainly due to the low number of toilets and the intolerance of children who were not used to being in a closed place following the rules. The night shelter provided maximum protection to the beneficiaries of the program because it helped to better protect the children from the spread of the virus".
According to data released by the Ministry of Health of Djibouti, a small African coastal state between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, 106,004 tests have been carried out in the country since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, 5,919 people have tested positive, 5,837 have been cured and 61 have died from the virus. (GB/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 27/1/2021)