How UNICEF is helping
Thailand
 |
| © UNICEF/HQ05-0123/Nettleton |
| A girl from the destroyed Ban Talaynok primary school places her wish on a 'Tree of Happiness'. This is part of a UNICEF-supported programme providing psychosocial care for children traumatized by the tsunami disaster. |
11 April 2005
Key UNICEF Actions
Working closely with government and partners, UNICEF has:
Health and Nutrition
- Carried out measles vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation campaigns for children in affected areas.
- Conducted first-aid sessions for children in affected schools in Phuket, Phang-Nga, Ranong and Krabi. The three-day sessions, led by UNICEF-supported experts in psychosocial care and support, began on 20 February and covered all affected schools by early April 2005.
Child Protection
- Dispatched teams of pediatricians and social workers to Phang Nga and Ranong to provide counseling and assistance for children who are distressed.
- Trained 500 government social workers, teachers and early childhood caregivers in psychosocial recovery activities for children.
- Distributed 16,000 booklets to families, teachers and social workers with information on how to help tsunami-affected children cope with their trauma.
- Provided sports equipment and reading books to over 140,000 children in 800 schools and early childhood development centers.
- Monitored the registration of separated and unaccompanied children, in an ongoing effort to reunite children with their parents or relatives.
Education
- Repaired schools and other buildings for temporary use as classrooms and shelters.
- Procured school supplies, recreational materials and early childhood kits for the 100 most affected schools.
- Trained 100 teachers to provide support to children who are distressed.
Water and Sanitation
- Provided water supply and sanitation for 2,000 families in 18 temporary shelters and for 12 temporary schools.
- Supported local governments to provide safe drinking water, toilet construction, hygiene promotion and de-worming campaigns.
- Cleaned up contaminated shallow wells and provided water tanks for children to wash their hands at school.
