(ANS – Vienna)– On occasion of the Day of Street-children on 31 January, the Austrian NGO, Jugend Eine Welt, which is supporting Don Bosco projects all over the world, demanded that much better protection be given to refugee minors in Europe, in particular in Turkey and Greece where the majority of refugees arrive.

Jugend Eine Welt is extremely concerned about the growing number of children in large cities like Athens and Istanbul who beg on the streets, sell small items like tissues or are even involved in prostitution. In particular, unaccompanied refugee minors face great risks alone in the streets and are often victims of trafficking – the problem could get worse with more and more European countries closing their borders for migrants who do not come from conflict countries. Apart from better protection, young people need better information about the real situation in European countries and the risks they face there - this information should be given already in their countries of origin.

Salesian Brother Lothar Wagner, Director of the NGO Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown/Sierra Leone confirmed that many young Africans have wrong perceptions about rich countries like Austria. He believes that many young migrants from West Africa will try to come to Europe in the spring as they have nothing to lose. “Families have already decided who will go, and thousands of young people have packed their bags“ said Bro. Wagner.

On invitation of Jugend Eine Welt he travelled through several Austrian provinces and through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany and South Tyrol during the past two weeks and gave lectures about the situation in Sierra Leone after the horrible Ebola disease. He described the impressive work of Don Bosco Fambul for street children and criticized the way international NGOs and UN institutions are handling the crisis in Sierra Leone which is far from over. Many children and young people have been traumatized and need socio-therapeutic support which is not available.

Bro. Wagner also denounced the negative impact of international trade policies and development aid which all too often neglect the needs of poor people and ruin local markets.

Jugend Eine Welt has been supporting Don Bosco Fambul for many years. They have confirmed that they will help finance a new Therapeutic Centre where traumatized children, including victims of violence and trafficking, can get professional support.

Further information about the “Day of Streetchildren” in Austria can be found on www.tagderstrassenkinder.at

Published 01/02/2016