For the past seven years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Turks to have at least three children. Those who have heeded his advice, however, seem to be in dire straits as many have left their children to state care.

According to the Ministry of Family and Social Policies’ Children Services Directorate, state support was requested for 6,977 children in the first five months of the year. The government is now providing financial assistance to their families. The total number of children for which families receive financial support reached 62,995 in May, up from 56,018 at the end of 2014.

Erdogan made his first call on families to have at least three children in 2008, sparking a heated public debate. In those days, the cost of raising a child from birth to school age was estimated at at least 4,000 Turkish lira per year (around $3,200 at the time). Government officials attending wedding ceremonies made it a habit to conclude their congratulatory remarks with the “three children” reminder.

How are people supposed to raise three children in a country where millions live under the poverty line?