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Squalid: The apartment buildings of Lunik IX in Kosice, Slovakia, the European Capital of Culture 2013, where up to 8,000 Roma live under harsh conditions''

These heartbreaking pictures show the squalid conditions that thousands of Roma children are forced to call home in the city of Kosice, Slovakia.
The city, the largest in eastern Slovakia, received £51million when it was named the European Capital of Culture 2013 alongside Marseille, France. The money is to be invested into the city's infrastructure, creative industries and tourism.
However, in the suburb of Lunik IX around 8,000 Slovakian Roma, most of them children, live in squalor in one of the world's worst slums.

Conditions: A young Roma dressed in filthy clothing stands among the rubbish that has been left outside the apartment block where he lives'

Hard upbringing: A group of young children play outside the entrance to one of the apartments in Lunik IX, where unemployment is thought to be almost 100 per cent''

In many of the pictures, piles of rubbish can be see surrounding the blocks of flats where the children live.
With little else to do, some - often covered in dirt and wearing clothes full of holes, play among the filth.
Graffiti can be seen scrawled across the walls with dirty washing and old furniture left on many balconies.
Some reports have suggested that the level of rubbish in the area has led to many water sources turning toxic - a problem that is beginning to affect the rest of the city and not just the Roma suburb.
Almost all of the apartments are without running water as a majority of those living there cannot afford to pay water bills.

A desperate situation: Karmena, a teenage Roma girl, sits with her head in her hands on a dilapidated balcony with no railings above another pile of rubbish''

Horrifying: Fifthly rubbish, piled up to the first floor, lays strewn on the ground while debris, old furniture and dirty washing can be seen left on many balconies''

Destitute: A young Roma girl sits at the entrance of one of the apartment buildings - where illnesses such as hepatitis and scabies are common''

No place to play: A boy carries his dog in his backyard. Next to him lie tons of garbage - usually thrown out the window by residents''

Living hell: A young woman stands in a recently abandoned flat, left, while a thin young boy stands in front of one apartment block''

The Roma ghetto is a stark contrast to the rest of the city - which is situated on the river Hornád, at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains.

The city boasts three universities, various dioceses, and many museums, galleries, and theaters, but it was once known for its heavy industry. To this day, the largest employer in Kosice is the steel mill.
The town, population of 240,000, has extensive railway connections and an international airport - which are set to be improved with the European Capital of Culture grant.

Family: A group of Roma siblings inside pose for the camera inside an apartment building. The walls behind them are covered in graffiti, while rubbish covers the floor''

HUYU NAE  UBUNIFU WAKE NI UVUTAJI WA SIGARA''MBUTA NANGA" A young boy with his hood up, smokes a cigarette''

MTOTO MBUNIFU ''IPO SIKU ATAJIKUTA TAJIRI WA DUNIA'BLESS " A young boy the photographer's camera using a VHS tape''

TUMECHOTA NA KUMIMINA KUTOKA DM''