Addis Abeba — A 25 years old newsboy told The Daily Monitor that he can't stand the agony emanating from people's hostility and his lifetime feelings of loneliness no more; due to his scalded half body including his face.

"Some office subscribers keep me outdoor and tell me to drop the newspaper somewhere. Others say something indecent behind my back; let alone the generous tip they give to other newsboys," laments Biruk Alemayehu.

He was born here in Addis and works to support his father who is a news vendor. His mother passed away when he was a child. He has lived all his life in a state of social out cast.

"I am ill-treated wherever I go. I was even fired from school once in the pretext of bad behavior. I changed schools twice or three times but all did the same and when I was 8th grade, I left school for good thanks to my poverty," he smiled bitterly.

He recalls how the accident occurred when he was seven. He was playing sitting under a table in a lamplight. Suddenly, the lamp fell over his head and the fire spread to his body following the kerosene. Now, his right arm, half of the chest area and the face are burnt.

He says there is a chance for recovery through plastic surgery.

An American woman, named Joys Clarke had planned to take him to the US for surgery. Unfortunately, she died in the September 11 plane crush accident of the New York, he told The Daily monitor with shed of tears.

Biruk has no friend to smile with, share ideas or lean on during depression. He has no desire in life "life is bitter for me and loneliness is killing me," he says.

He keeps his childhood photo in his pocket where ever he goes. He likes to show people when they talk to him.

Asked why he does this, Biruk said, "Many people want to know how the accident occurred to me. But, I want to remember what it feels to be whole. That's why I keep this picture with me. Besides, it is the only one I have," he said.

This state of living condition is not just about Biruk. It is about the agony of millions of disabled people living with similar anguish.

Biruk calls for help for foreign medication from the public and also wishes to have the last thing he expected but denied from people; their compassion and friendly gesture.