“If you look at your child you will see his questions before you hear them.”Serere oral tradition | Some, like Ismael, who came to Ceuta from his home in Tetouan more than a year ago, live rough. Many more are housed in Spanish children's homes, although the local authorities complain that they cannot cope with the flood.
"They took me to the San Antonio children's home, but the bigger children hit me, so I came back here," Ismael said, sinking his nose into a dirty sock. He swore that he was just mopping up the blood, but it is more likely that the sock contained "cola", a strong glue which many street children sniff. This time he has been lucky. Last month he was doused in lighter fuel and set on fire. Large white scars mark his dark skin. "I woke up with fire on my arms and face and ran straight into the sea. The man who did it wanted me to rob for him, but I said no."
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He was the third street child to be attacked in this way in the past few months; all the others suffered third degree burns. All were attacked by young Moroccan men, some also living rough in Ceuta, who wanted the children to beg or steal for them. Read more... Tremlett, Giles. “ Perilous Lives of runaways Europe does not want.” Guardian 15 June 2001
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