Björk with Iqbal and Sonia and other children at the temporary school in Min Lampuuk.
UNICEF UK/2006/Josh Estey

Day two

Temporary school in Min Lampuuk

Björk met children at a UNICEF-funded temporary school in Min Lampuuk, one of the areas worst-hit by the tsunami. Sixty per cent of the children here lost one or both parents.

Björk heard that at first the children were traumatised and not able to play or learn but now the children play football and badminton and enjoy their studies. Water is supplied to the school by a UNICEF water bladder that is filled every few days.

To the left and right of Björk in the photograph above are Iqbal aged 11 and Sonia aged 6, who both lost relatives in the tsunami disaster.

Iqbal escaped the waves on his bicycle, pedalling with his friends as fast as he could while the wall of water came after them. He lost both his parents in the tsunami and lives with his relatives. Iqbal said his favourite subject is science.

Sonia was pulled from the waves by an old man who took her to the mosque for safety. She lives with a foster mother as she has no surviving relatives. Sonia loves maths and would love to become a teacher. Björk were told by the head teacher that despite her enormous loss, Sonia is a strong and determined little girl.