Abstract: A child tracing project conducted in Thailand to determine the situation and well-being of Thai and migrant tsunami orphans.

Background

The lives of many children changed dramatically after the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.  The well-being of many of these children is still unknown, and although many have received help and are living in a safe environment, others may be vulnerable and open to neglect.

Throughout Thailand there are an estimated 2,300-2,500 Thai tsunami orphans and an estimated 1,000 unrecorded migrant tsunami orphans.  Through our research we discovered that much of the information about children is limited or has changed since it was last recorded post-tsunami.  In addition, official figures vary between government and aid organisations due to lack of standardisation in recording, different definitions of what constitutes an orphan and issues of legal status concerning migrant children.

ChildTRAC’s goal is to track down each child in person to determine their current or permanent placement, overall welfare and needs.

Methodology

Working with the Thai Social Department of Human Securities (SDHS), UNICEF, and other local partners, Child TRAC locates each child orphaned in the December 2004 tsunami and visits the child (and their caregiver) in person to determine the circumstances surrounding their placement and wellbeing.

Specially trained staff utilise a set of research and assessment tools (SOK) to help them determine the wellbeing of the child.

Information is then compiled into a standardised database which can be used as a centralised reference point for children’s organisations.

It is quite common for a child’s status and location to change since post-tsunami registration and it is for this reason we are constantly updating our information, and thus, have also found additional children orphaned by the tsunami during the course of our research.

After the child’s school, institution, residence or placement has been located; we contact their caregiver and/or teacher and arrange a time to interview both the child and relevant adults.

We intend to track each and every child orphaned by the December 2004 tsunami.

Geographical scope

ChildTRAC is tracing children in the six directly tsunami provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and Satun. As well as locating children in indirectly affected provinces across Thailand.

More

ChildTRAC acknowledges the importance of providing aid in the form of information. Our goal is to collect, evaluate and disseminate information about tsunami orphans to the relevant agencies to ensure that the children are provided with the assistance they require.

To ensure support reaches disadvantaged children, ChildTRAC endeavours to track down each child in person, assess their situation and determine their current/future placement, well-being and needs. This information will then be made available to relief organizations; empowering them with vital information to assist the children.

Whilst we do not provide what is called direct aid; ChildTRAC provides support and information to those that have the means and capacity to provide direct assistance to children in need…