By www.web.amnesty.org

Physical conditions for the children of Dzhurkovo's care home have considerably improved since the winter of 1997 when six children and one 18-year-old died from hypothermia and malnutrition. But clean sheets, warm dormitories and basic medical care are not sufficient for the 69 children of Dzhurkovo, a remote village in the Rodopi mountains. The lack of assessment, treatment and rehabilitation by therapists, psychologists and physicians is profoundly damaging to their development and deprives them of their fundamental right to life with dignity and respect.

Eighteen children have been diagnosed with Down's syndrome and 51 with cerebral palsy. Forty-three are considered "bedridden" and are provided with very little contact or activity. There are three "educators" for the entire institution but even they do not have appropriate training. In June when an AI delegate visited the institution, there was only one "educator", with a degree in chemistry, on duty for all "bedridden" children. Their individual activity plans and rehabilitation reports appeared to be superficial and aimed at complying with regulations rather than addressing the needs of the child concerned. One girl with Down's syndrome who was eight years old and had been observed three years earlier chewing the sides of her wooden cot was found, apparently still reduced to this state by inactivity and lack of attention. A specially equipped playroom and a gym, as on the previous visit, did not appear to be in effective use.

The children of Dzhurkovo need appropriate developmental and educational programmes to help them develop their full potential and give them the chance of an independent and full life. This can only be achieved if they are moved from their remote mountain location and provided with appropriate facilities in a major urban centre where they will have access to the specialists they require.

Please write, calling on the authorities to move the children of Dzhurkovo to an urban centre to receive appropriate care, rehabilitation and education, and to take all steps to reintegrate the children into the community as appropriate.

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