Ulan Bator: The Children Underground

A film by Dino de Toffol & David Bellatalla

One third of the population in Mongolia lives in poverty, a situation that was exacerbated when the Soviet Union withdrew its support, and democracy replaced communism. While a segment of the population became the new rich,a much larger portion, especially former nomads, became the new poor. With poverty came despair and an increase in alcoholism, which disrupted family life. Three thousand young children, running away from abusive families and broken homes, now live on the streets in Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator. To survive the cold they huddle in underground passages at night, dangerous, unhygienic places where the heating pipes provide warmth but no comforts. Their poverty reflects Mongolia's economic crisis after the Soviet Union's withdrawal.

This film shows us the lives of these children. They root through the garbage looking for things to sell and scraps to eat. They try to get work in the markets but usually resort to petty thefts to get money. Many, even as young as ten years old, are infected with sexually transmitted diseases. There are agencies funded by the West that try to help, and we see one of these care centers run by a Philippine priest. Father Gilbert says that he can aid the younger children, but once children have been on the streets for six months it is almost impossible to reclaim them.

18 min. Video or DVD. Sale $195. Video rental $55.