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Homeless Kids in Egypt Suffer The COVID-19 Crisis

Published July 15th, 2020 - 06:23 GMT

Wandering Cairo’s bustling streets, Zeinab was struggling to survive by selling tissues when the coronavirus left her even more vulnerable, along with thousands of other homeless people and street children.

The only good news was that, amid the pandemic fears, physical violence against the destitute has declined, Zeinab told AFP at a mobile shelter for the poor in Abbassiya, a working-class district.

“People attack us less because they are afraid,” she said.

But with fewer people in the streets, “we have less work and less money,” added the young woman, while keeping an eye on her one-year-old son, Abdallah. 

In 2016, Egyptian authorities launched the national programme 'Atfal bala ma'wa' (Children Without a Home) with the aim of "integrating" street children and helping them "abandon street behaviour," said Mohamed Shaker, head of the programme at the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

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A social worker shows a homeless child the proper way to use a face mask inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A social worker shows a homeless child the proper way to use a face mask inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Homeless children play an educational game with a social worker inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Homeless children play an educational game with a social worker inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A woman looks on as a worker entertains a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A woman looks on as a worker entertains a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020.Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A homeless child leaves one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A homeless child leaves one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A social worker shows a homeless child the proper way to use a face mask inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Homeless children play an educational game with a social worker inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A woman looks on as a worker entertains a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020.Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A homeless child leaves one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A social worker shows a homeless child the proper way to use a face mask inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A social worker shows a homeless child the proper way to use a face mask inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Homeless children play an educational game with a social worker inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Homeless children play an educational game with a social worker inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A woman looks on as a worker entertains a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A woman looks on as a worker entertains a homeless child inside one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020.Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Youths from the "Children without Shelter" program attend a fitness sessions in their residences at Banati foundation in 6th October City on the outskirts of the capital Cairo on July 13, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A homeless child leaves one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A homeless child leaves one of the mobile units run by the Egyptian authorities and used as part of the "Atfal bala ma'wa" (Children without a home) social program, in the capital Cairo's Abbasia district on June 22, 2020. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Almost a third of Egypt's population of 100 million lives in poverty, with street children not only among the poorest, but also regularly exposed to verbal, physical and sexual violence. The coronavirus pandemic has left them even more vulnerable. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

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