Lautoka has the highest number of homeless children, according to a report submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection. The data is part of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs review of the ministry’s annual reports for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
The ministry reported that there are 33 children living on the streets in Lautoka, with six of them placed in a children’s home. Most of these children have either been reunited with their families or relatives. However, some children have yet to be profiled due to their condition when approached for information, leading to their care being provided at health centers or hospitals.
In Suva, there are currently six children living on the streets full-time, with an additional 11 children identified who come into town from Jittu Estate during the day. In Nakasi, it was noted that six to ten children are being taken care of by a family.
In Nadi, five identified children were found with a parent or relative, who beg during the day and return home in the evening. It was also observed that in Nakasi and Nausori, children are mainly used for begging but are accompanied by their parents. These areas have shown that children from surrounding neighborhoods often gather in town and engage in glue sniffing with peers.