Both yawned, squinted, then simultaneously pressed toxic, solvent-soaked tissues to their mouths, inhaling deeply. Now we see two or three new ones every day. A senior government official acknowledged that Mexico's suffering economy has increased the signs of abject poverty. The crisis brings greater unemployment, and unemployment leads to greater poverty.
Poverty expels children onto the streets.
The section of rusted iron sewer pipe where Margarita crawled off to sleep is also home for 45 of Mexico City's poorest poor. They range in age from 7 to 19, spending their days begging, washing car windows at intersections and foraging for food. At night, they escape the pain and loneliness of street life by gathering in their underground culvert. Eloy is the group's keeper of the tissues, stuffing wads of solvent-soaked toilet paper into a plastic bottle and dispensing them to all takers. I can forget everything and take a trip.