Kids spend night in cold

By DOREEN NAWA
SOME abandoned children are spending nights in the cold at Petauke Police Station, Eastern Zambia.
A check at the Police station found children aged between 2 and 16 sitting outside the police station waiting to be identified or relocated to safer places.

“I can give these children food or clothes but not taking them to go and sleep at my home because it is not allowed in our ethics,” one police officer said.
According to sources at the station, children are sometimes taken to Kachele Transit Home, which is operated by Community Youth Concern (CYC).
CYC is a non-governmental organisation that supports the welfare of youths.
And Kachele Transit Home co-ordinator Diana Lungu said the transit house does not have enough room to accommodate any more children.
Ms Lungu said the home is not well-funded and lacks basic needs for children below the age of 5.
“The Kachele Transit Home has 37 girls and 18 boys and this number alone is a challenge. I cannot imagine more children as they would just suffer here too,” Ms Lungu said.