© UNICEF/ HQ96-1400/ Pirozzi
This week marks the 5th annual World Orphan Week sponsored by SOS Children’s Villages, the world’s largest charity dedicated to the long-term care and prevention of orphaned and abandoned children.
According to UNICEF, an estimated 143 million children worldwide are orphans due to natural disaster, conflict, disease and poverty and another 100 million abandoned children live on the streets. SOS Children’s Villages works in 132 countries worldwide providing shelter, emotional support, education and medical care to orphans to ensure that they have a brighter future.
We are especially mindful of the plight of orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti which were already at about 380,000 prior to the January 12th earthquake, and the long-term consequences this vulnerable population faces. Poverty and lack of a support system only exacerbate the challenges orphaned and abandoned children face, increasing their susceptibility to prevalent neglected tropical diseases in Haiti. Now, more than ever, children around the world need our support.
World Orphan Week sheds light on the issues faced by orphaned and abandoned children worldwide and provides the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable population.
