Third of poor children are new immigrants

A third of Israel's poor children in 2005 were new immigrants, according to an annual report by the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the National Council for the Child published on Sunday.

These results show a significant rise in poverty among immigrant children. Five years ago, they only made up one fifth of Israel's disadvantaged youth.

Minister of Immigrant Absorption Ze'ev Boim cautioned that "not investing enough in immigrant children could lead to endless trouble. I call on all the ministries and the authorities to work together in order to ensure a suitable life for our children."

According to the report, there are currently 290,000 new immigrant children living in Israel. Fifty-two thousand of them, three times the number of Israeli-born children, live in single-parent homes.

The report also showed that immigrant children make up about 7 percent of those receiving welfare services, and a quarter of all children in psychiatric hospitals.

Almost 20 percent of children staying at institutes for at-risk children are new immigrants.

The Ministry of Immigration Absorption invests NIS 45 million (about USD 10 million) each year for at-risk children and youth.

"In treating youth, there are many challenges ahead of us that deal with the immigration crisis. The whole society must examine itself and check how it is upholding its commitment to the children as equal citizens, and this report will help all those dealing with immigration absorption and immigrant children improve their treatment. This report will lead to effective action," added Boim.