Frontera NorteSur, September 1999

Shelter for Street Children Constructed On Border

"I quickly learned to steal money from wallets and at night we would assault people that walked in the streets alone." José Alberto Cervantes Robles, 17-year-old Juarez "street child," recalls the many lessons that the street teaches a runaway child. He continued his "education" through the usage of drugs, including marijuana, Valium, and glue, at the young age of ten.

This story is not unique. Many children living in the streets of our neighboring border town of Juárez share an almost identical story to that of Jose Alberto. Many, also like José Alberto, have chosen the life of the streets as an escape from physical abuse in their parents' household. As the numbers of these street children multiply, concerned organizations are questioning what should be done for the protection and welfare of these homeless children.

Consequently, the Cneter for the Welfare of Border Children (Camef) has begun construction on a shelter for these street children. Camef, along with the program Children In Crisis (Mesa), counsels and attends to children and adolescents that have "escaped" from their nuclear family. With a private sponsor and an investment of 40 million pesos (approximately $4 million), the building should be completed in November. It will provide dormitories, a readily available counseling service, various sports, and a garden for these street children.

In addition to their monitoring of homeless children, Camef also attempts to reduce the amount of children in the streets who expose themselves to the dangers of drug addiction, assaults, prostitution, robbery, homosexuality, and arrest. Camef also states a main objective of preventing the separation of a minor from his/her family and promoting positive changes that decrease a minor's desire for solitude away from his/her family.

It is because of shelters similar to this that many street children realize the realities of life and attempt to change the ideas and lessons learned on the streets. "There, in the center for minors, I was always aware that I could not get drugs; at the beginning I missed it, but the days passed and little by little I started forgetting," states José Alberto.

Red Cross Must Limit Services

"Because of shortages in funding, the Red Cross will limit medical services such as out-patient care and minor surgeries," reported director Jorge Arturo del Valle Cossio. These services will no longer be considered top priority. Instead, major surgeries and immediate ailments will hold the Red Cross' attention.

The funding received this year, approximately $20,000, down from $50,000 pesos last year, was not sufficient to provide all of the health care needed for the continually growing population.

The director also stated that disaster preparation should be utilized, as well as volunteer help, in order to be ready for any possible emergency.

Overwhelming Rain Hits Border Hard

The effects of heavy rain have hit many areas of the world, including the U.S. México border region. As the stories continue to accumulate, the casualties due to the wet weather become harder and harder to read. From pavement damages to the deaths of children, the water continues to claim victims in its unpredictable path.

Pavement Damages: The Cd. Juárez Department of Public Works reported that the heavy rain has damaged ten thousand square meters of pavement in Juárez. Some of the streets damaged include la Adolfo Lopes Mateos, Plutarco Elias Calles, Juarez-Porvenir, and el Boulevard Teolifo Borunda. In addition, neighborhood streets in the various colonies have also been affected by minor damage. The repairs are expected to cost an estimated $80 thousand.

In a related story, Chihuahua Governor Martínez is asking for support in the attempt of repairing streets in Anapra damaged by the recent rain. He is currently proposing the introduction of the required heavy machinery needed for such a project. Furthermore, the governor is mainly depending on a funding program that has already invested $3 million in street repairs since November of 1998.

Damaged Homes: A total of 24 homes located along the river border, with only five requiring emergency aide, have been affected heavily by the recent rains in Anapra. The water was reported to have reached up to one meter in height at its peak as it welcomed itself into the various houses. Luckily, the main damages included no fatalities and mainly encompassed lost and damaged material possessions. In addition to experiencing such a major scare, the residents complained of having to save their belongings, including bedding, clothing, and furniture, without any rescuer aide. The colonia most affected was that of Zacatecas, which reported 13 different sectors with water damage.

In the colonia Tierra Nueva, where a total of ten homes were affected by the flooding of the Bravo River, destroyed and damaged buildings are expected to be repaired with municipal support. Construction materials are being delivered to the required sites for immediate repairs. Other colonias that will be included in the effort are Anapra and Felipe Angeles y Ladrilleros.

A final sum of 37 houses were affected by the heavy rains in the colonia Fray Garcia de San Fransisco estimated Ramiro Velez Martinez of la Civil Protection Group. Damages included destroyed rooves and furniture, and vehicles buried in the resulting mud. "We were very afraid…the house was moving, outside the rain was falling hard and then we saw a wooden roof spinning through the air like a tornado; it fell directly on us," related witness/victim Yolanda Barraza. Further dangers included a possible explosion when a piece of wood was lodged into a butane tank by the intense weather.

Water-induced Tragedies: Assumed to have been looking for an entertaining place to play, two children were found in the ditches that collect water form la Sierra Juarez and other sectors. Sergio Javier Esperanza, 7, and Cindy Fabiola Martinez, 14, drowned in separate parts of the city after attempting to play in the dangerous ditches. It is speculated that Sergio Javier slipped on the edge of the ditch and encountered material that captured him and evidently resulted in his death. Cindy Fabiola's body was found at lthe top of the Aguila Dam and Calle Feldepato, in the colonia Puerto Anapra.

Sources: El Paso Times, El Diario, El Norte