03:08Children are forced to scavenge through rubbish as their only means of survival in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, as seen in footage filmed on Thursday.
A report from the city shows children, teenagers and their mothers at a dumpsite searching for plastic and other recyclable materials amongst the refuse. This is all done wearing minimal protection and using rudimentary tools.
The need to provide for their families has forced children to abandon their education for labour that sees them earning as little as US$8 (€7/£6) per day. At times, this sum may represent a family's only source of income. According to reports, 400 children are working at the dumpsite.
"I don't have money, I need to work in order to eat and drink," said one child when asked why he could not go to school.
Under Iraq's education law, children are required to attend school for six years, typically up to age 12. Once they hit that age, they become particularly vulnerable to exploitative child labour practices.
Mosul, Iraq's second most populous city and the largest ever to fall into the hands of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIL/ISIS), has struggled to recover since Iraqi forces recaptured the city in July 2017.
Iraq: Mosul's children scavenge through rubbish to survive
Children are forced to scavenge through rubbish as their only means of survival in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, as seen in footage filmed on Thursday.
A report from the city shows children, teenagers and their mothers at a dumpsite searching for plastic and other recyclable materials amongst the refuse. This is all done wearing minimal protection and using rudimentary tools.
The need to provide for their families has forced children to abandon their education for labour that sees them earning as little as US$8 (€7/£6) per day. At times, this sum may represent a family's only source of income. According to reports, 400 children are working at the dumpsite.
"I don't have money, I need to work in order to eat and drink," said one child when asked why he could not go to school.
Under Iraq's education law, children are required to attend school for six years, typically up to age 12. Once they hit that age, they become particularly vulnerable to exploitative child labour practices.
Mosul, Iraq's second most populous city and the largest ever to fall into the hands of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIL/ISIS), has struggled to recover since Iraqi forces recaptured the city in July 2017.
Children are forced to scavenge through rubbish as their only means of survival in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, as seen in footage filmed on Thursday.
A report from the city shows children, teenagers and their mothers at a dumpsite searching for plastic and other recyclable materials amongst the refuse. This is all done wearing minimal protection and using rudimentary tools.
The need to provide for their families has forced children to abandon their education for labour that sees them earning as little as US$8 (€7/£6) per day. At times, this sum may represent a family's only source of income. According to reports, 400 children are working at the dumpsite.
"I don't have money, I need to work in order to eat and drink," said one child when asked why he could not go to school.
Under Iraq's education law, children are required to attend school for six years, typically up to age 12. Once they hit that age, they become particularly vulnerable to exploitative child labour practices.
Mosul, Iraq's second most populous city and the largest ever to fall into the hands of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIL/ISIS), has struggled to recover since Iraqi forces recaptured the city in July 2017.