In pictures: Siret institution

Little girl looking through the bars of a cot, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

When the first Westerners arrived at the main children's institution in Siret, they were shocked by what they saw.

Child in the Siret institution, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

Hundreds of children were living there, with few staff to care for them.

Children in the institution, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

At one stage, the institution was home to more than 1,000 children.

Institution in Siret, 1996

Located in the centre of the town, the institution was a huge Communist-era building.

toilet 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

Hygiene and cleanliness were woefully inadequate...

Bucket of soup, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

... and the food was little better.

Child in a cot, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

Western medical staff found many of the children malnourished.

Child in the institution, 1990 (image courtesy of Mentorn)

Images of the institution - and others across Romania - were shown across the world, sparking a huge aid operation.