Number of orphans reached 118,000 in Russia - Deputy Prime Minister Golodets
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets has put the number of orphans in the country today at 118,000.
"Today we have 118,000 children who need a family. These children are included in the nationwide database," Golodets said in the State Duma on Friday.
In her opinion, it is a very large figure for Russia.
"Regrettably, more children became orphans in 2012 than the year before," she said. "A total of 74,400 children became orphans last year. This number is appalling."
Of them, 44,000 orphans have living parents, who have been stripped of their parental rights. This issue cannot be tackled separately because it stems from problems like alcohol and drug abuse and asocial behavior, according to Golodets.
About 61,000 orphans were transferred to families last year.
"I am not optimistic about this figure. It is too small," she said.
Of them, just 6,500 children were adopted.
The number of Russian orphans transferred to foreign families declined as well, standing at 2,600 in 2012, Golodets said.
