In December 2004 there was a tsunami of historic proportions that devastated Thailand and Sri Lanka. Many of us saw pictures of the aftermath on television; but one of the things that we don’t see are the more than 2,000 children who have become instant orphans as a result of this disaster. Even today, the correct number of children who have orphaned by the tsunami cannot still be verified.
Thailand
Thailand was the worst hit by the tsunami, especially the small district of Phang-Nga on the coastline. They have at least 54 of the 1100 tsunami orphans that have been accounted for so far. Khun is 9 years old and one of those tsunami orphans who now rely on the goodness of her relatives to help her through life.
Immediately after the tsunami, there was a significant increase in the number of people who wanted to adopt children who have been orphaned by the tsunami. This increase in demand prompted the government to impose tighter restrictions on international adoption so as to reduce the possibility of tsunami orphans being sold off in slavery.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was another country whose number of orphans increased dramatically as a result of the tsunami. The number of tsunami orphans is now at 1,000 and counting. Nima’s sister, who was 15 when the tsunami happened, became the guardian and charge of her Nima, 10, and 8 year-old brothers. These tsunami orphans are very much in need and there are many organizations, such as The Red Cross and UNICEF.
As in Thailand, there was an increase the adoption requests for tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka. There too, the government rushed to tighten restrictions on the adoption of tsunami orphans in an effort to product the children when they are at their most vulnerable. It takes approximately 3-4 years for a person from a foreign country to adopt a child in Sri Lanka.
Needless to say these tsunami orphans still need a lot of care physically and psychologically. They have been thrust into a situation that is a lot for even adults to handle.
The good news is that there is evidence now that these tsunami orphans are showing themselves to be quite resilient. They are recovering fast from their experience and most of them are expected to return to normal in a few years.
Your help is still welcome and needed to rebuild their homes and lives. Groups like The Christian Children’s Fund and Save the Children are very active in doing this. If you wish to donate your time or money to this worthy cause, please contact one of these organizations and help these tsunami orphans.
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