Many Of these children grow up alone facing poverty and exploitation without the protection of a safe secure family.As well as extreme poverty, the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic has left a whole generation of already vulnerable children at risk of even suffering.HIV/AIDS-related illnesses claim the lives of 70 000children even year and rob nearly one million children are left to to cope alone and without the support and care of parents or guardian,they are most vulnerable to child labour ,exploitation, trafficking and abuse.Many orphans and vulnerable children are left in the care of elderly relatives and older siblings.These families often find it hard to cope and are at risk of separation .Some children are forced to drop out of school to work as tobacco farmers or goat herder to help support their families.Many other have to move away from their families to find work in town or cities.They end up working in badly-paid and demanding jobs as domestic worker and are highly vulnerable to abuse exploitation and trafficking.
QUICK FACTS:
42% of the population live below the poverty line .1.3million children are orphaned.Nearly 30%of children are engaged in children labour.Just over 50%of children get married before they are 18 years old.