India

Over 18,000 people lost their lives or remain missing in India, a third of whom are believed to be children. The worst hit area was the state of Tamil Nadu where nearly 8,000 people died or are still missing. Although UNICEF runs long-term programmes in India, we did not have offices in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Within days of the disaster however, UNICEF had established a presence. We have been the only humanitarian agency allowed to operate across the 572-island archipelago and remain the Indian administration’s main partner in tsunami recovery.

The resources available for tsunami recovery have offered a real opportunity to help get the poorest and most marginalised children into education, children who have never been able to attend school before, such as those from the fishing or Dalit communities. UNICEF has been working with District education officials and NGO partners to identify children not in school and enrol them in ‘catch-up’ or bridging programmes, with a view to channelling them into the formal school system. Children from some vulnerable groups are now eligible for free education through government schemes.

Around 480 children in Tamil Nadu state lost both parents to the tsunami. Most children have been placed with extended families and the government has provided a lump sum to safeguard their future. For those children due to be placed in foster care, UNICEF is working with the government to set up a monitoring scheme, to ensure that foster families act in the child’s best interest and the children are not left open to financial abuse.

Thanks to the generous donations of our supporters, UNICEF has been able to work with the government and partners to ensure that children affected by the tsunami in India have been kept alive and healthy. Through immunisation, through the restoration of essential health services, the water supply and improved sanitation and hygiene promotion, UNICEF has helped ensure that children are assisted beyond the short term.