The municipal police in Tripoli arrested 12 child beggars, both boys and girls, on Tuesday evening in the streets of the city, our North Lebanon correspondent Michel Hallak reports.
In a statement, the police declared that it "will not tolerate minors being recruited to beg," with the consent of their parents and under the direct supervision of individuals, mostly from the surrounding areas of Tripoli, some of whom have been arrested.
According to the statement, "the police are continuing the investigation and are striving to take all possible deterrent measures under the supervision of the competent court, to find a social facility to house the children."
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) urge citizens, motorists, and shopkeepers to "contact the emergency number 71/897079 during the week to report the presence of beggars."
With the economic crisis and the collapse of the Lebanese pound since 2019, child labor has significantly increased in Lebanon. This is especially visible in agriculture, domestic work, factory work, and streets. However, authorities struggle to combat these forms of labor.