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#Videocrux - Mauritanian children are abandoned from their right Mauritanian children are abandoned from their right
He may be almost 10, but Ibrahim doesn't go to school. Instead, he spends his days on the streets of Nouakchott, cleaning car windscreens in exchange for little money. Ibrahim is one of a growing number of children left to fend themselves in Mauritania's cities a symptom, experts say, of a wider social malalise.
Mauritanian children are abandoned from their right
He may be almost 10, but Ibrahim doesn't go to school. Instead, he spends his days on the streets of Nouakchott, cleaning car windscreens in exchange for little money. Ibrahim is one of a growing number of children left to fend themselves in Mauritania's cities a symptom, experts say, of a wider social malalise.
Families have failed to play their roles
Sidi Ould El Jeyid, Sociology professor, University of Nouakchott, "The family in Mauritania has failed in its traditional responsibilities in terms of protecting, educating and counselling children."
Mostly children are from broken families
But some of those left on the social scrap heap are now getting the help they need. At this shelter in the capital, some 400 children are being housed, fed and schooled. Some were abandoned at birth others mistreated, or exploited as beggars. Many are from broken families.
Lack of resources firms couldn't help fully
Seyida Bint Ahmed, director of centre for child protection, "As an institution aimed at protecting children and reinserting them into society, we have a centre created for that purpose which has been operational since 2008." But this is one of just three shelters in the country, and they're already struggling to accommodate homeless children. With more than 40 percent of the population under 15, it's a problem that could get much worse.

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