The government will allocate LE69.5 million for street children, Insurance and Social Affairs Minister Nagwa Khalil told state news agency MENA. The ministry allocated LE30.9 million from local and foreign donations for street children's care through 13 NGOs working in the field in Cairo, Khalil said, adding that the region is most affected by street children's issues. She also announced the allocation of LE38.6 million for another 13 NGOs that support different activities to create socially and psychologically balanced children, both for under the care of their parents and for those without shelter. Khalil added that the ministry seeks to achieve comprehensive growth for children by providing an appropriate environment in which they can practice different activities, saying the ministry hopes to provide qualified human resources. She said the ministry would set up educational programs for street children to encourage them to leave their current environment. A 2006 UNICEF report estimated the number of street children in Egypt at 1 million.
