Ethiopian child beggars in Somalia are at risk of exploitation

[Deeq A.]

Ethiopia child beggars in Somalia go in pairs to elicit sympathy from potential helpers.

Garowe (PP News Desk) — People in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland State of Somalia, have raised concerns about the large number of child beggars roaming major markets such as Suuqa Inji and Suuqa Garoowe and nearby cafeterias. These children are Ethiopian by nationality and show a paper with a telephone number written on it to ask for alms. The phone numbers belong to the adults for whom the children work. Ethiopian refugees who come to Puntland State of Somalia easily acquire a mobile telephone number. It is unclear if locals procure mobile phone numbers for them or if telephone service providers sell phone numbers to Ethiopian refugees in Puntland.

“Somalis welcome Ethiopian refugees, but a network of dishonest refugees is clearly taking advantage of the lax security rules in Puntland and sending child beggars to the markets,” said a former Garowe City Council councillor. Senay, a barber and long-time resident of Garowe, told Puntland Post that many of these children had been kidnapped in Ethiopia and trafficked to Somalia and forced to work as beggars. “There are more Ethiopian child beggars in Garowe than Somali beggars. It is an open secret that Ethiopian child beggars serve adults who own the telephones into which kind-hearted people send money as alms when a child claims he or she is an orphan. I urge the Puntland State government to address this problem,” said Senay.

Often, child beggars go in pairs to elicit sympathy from potential helpers. “If people realise that phone numbers used by Ethiopian child beggars belong to adults, there could be a backlash. Many children are from Addis Ababa, Gojjam and Gondar. I doubt they are here with their parents. It is unlawful to send children to beg in the streets when they should be going to school,” said S. H. Ademu, an Oromo man who teaches in one of Garowe’s schools.

It is unclear how major telecommunications companies in Garowe will respond to allegations that they allow Ethiopian refugees to acquire phone numbers without proper vetting. 

© Puntland Post, 2024

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