How UNICEF is helping

Thailand

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.