As usual in natural disasters, children are paying the highest price for the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. Hundreds of Honduran children were forced onto the streets when the hurricane cut a swath of destruction across Central America in November. They are either homeless orphans or are sent there by desperate parents living in poverty. The kids beg, shine shoes or just roam the streets.
Social workers say an increasing number are addicted to glue sniffing.
And once that happens, they're lost to the street culture. Thousands live in overcrowded shelters. They sleep five to a bed and fight over the lone toilet. The only protection from the wind and rain are sheets of plastic. They live on handouts and cook their meals on concrete floors.