Japan-Thailand ODA
Contribution of The Government of Japan to the UNICEF response in Thailand
As part of its US$70 million contribution to UNICEF's global tsunami response, US$2 million was allocated for activities in Thailand. The Government of Japan's contribution was allocated for emergency activities in child protection and education in all six tsunami affected provinces.
Funding from the Government of Japan was used to provide;
- 237 sets of educational toys and 237 sets of indoor playground equipment for 214 child development centres serving around 11,500 children.
- 242,000 books and 479 sets of sports equipment (for football, badminton, basketball etc) for 470 primary and "expanded opportunity"* schools serving around 88,000 children.
- 10 sets of sports equipment for 1,000 children in 10 temporary shelters.
Japanese Government support was provided to schools and early childhood centres in all the 20 tsunami-affected districts.
The tsunami had a devastating psychological effect on children -especially on those children who are now dealing with the loss of loved ones and those children whose normal family and community routines have been disrupted. Recreation and play are an essential part of the psychosocial healing process. At the same time, they help children return to a normal routine.
Getting children back to school is critical for their psychosocial recovery and above all for their improved protection. After the family, the school is the most important institution for children. Caring teachers and a safe and healthy physical environment with the right facilities to support learning objectives are an important part of the child's protective environment.
The contribution of the Government of Japan was vital in supporting these achievements.
*Expanded opportunity schools are primary schools that continue teaching their pupils until grade 9, meaning that their parents do not have to send them to secondary schools, which are often further away.