Street ChildrenThe number of China's urban street children is growing. Based on the number of children passing through protection centres, the Ministry of Civil Affairs estimates that there are around 150,000. Many come from migrant families; others migrate to urban areas by themselves to escape the harsh conditions they face in rural areas. They are vulnerable to risks on the street and many resort to crime. The traditional approach to managing street children has been to pick them up, detain them for a while, and then send them back to their families. But many have left home because of family problems and are unwilling to return, or their families are unable to care for them. As a result, they soon go back to the street.
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