Some 500,000 people are practicing beggary in Morocco on a permanent or occasional basis, a survey on beggary among children aged below 12 in the region of Rabat has indicated.
The survey, cited by MAP, was conducted by the Moroccan League for the protection of children, the Mutual help department and the health ministry.
It noted that the Moroccan government spends some US$ 4 million annually in the fight against beggary and social exclusion.
According to the findings, adults accompanying children beggars aged below 7 are in majority women, and most of them are not single and are illiterate and only 6% have been to secondary school or more.
A rate of 75% are not-seasonal beggars who ask for charity in groups near mosques (32%), streets (29%), markets and supermarkets (16%). A large portion collects less than US$ 5 per day, while 25% pocket more than US$ 10 daily.
Over the half of these children (56%) are boys. Some 15% of the surveyed children beggars said they were “rented” for this activity at a weekly amount ranging between $5 to $10.
