There are heartening stories coming from Thailand regarding the importance communities and the government are attaching to the problems of children and their need to return to school. In many places parents have provided support and encouraged teachers to return to school so that some level of normalcy can be restored to their children’s lives. It is believed that the reopening of schools will not only naturally benefit the children’s education, but it will help the children deal with any post-tsunami physiological stress. Stories thus far are revealing the physiological trauma that many children have suffered as a result of the tsunami. However, several of the children who have been able to return to school and who have received special attention and monitoring for psychological problems that have been detected, have been attended to and treated before the situation got worse. Psychologists in countries affected by the tsunami are pointing to the possibility of very serious psychological problems that may arise in the aftermath of this tragedy. Naturally, children are likely to be greater victims of such situations. Thus, the action taken by Thai parents is not only generous but also extremely wise.
There are also reports from Thailand of the military rebuilding damaged schools so that they will be in a position to be used soon. Other than the practical aspect of the school buildings being made available there is also the psychological aspect to the whole nation when their soldiers are engaged in reconstructing the schools for the country’s children. Observers say that this is in fact one of the traditions of the Thai military. At times of catastrophes they play a visible role in the reconstruction of the social infrastructure so that things can be brought back to normal as soon as possible. Such events create a wholesome psychological impetus among the whole population who want certain priorities addressed even in the midst of such devastation.
In both these areas of community redevelopment involving teachers and the military there is a loud message for the people and the Government of Sri Lanka. Currently in Sri Lanka, we are witnessing the most generous out flowing of aid and assistance, both from the local community as well as from abroad. The crisis not only brought Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations and Colin Powel, the Secretary of State for the United States of America, as concerned visitors, but it has also put Sri Lanka before the watchful eyes of concerned people throughout the world. Besides the aid that has already come to Sri Lanka there is enormous potential for unprecedented levels of assistance born out of unbound sympathy that tsunami victims have evoked. Not surprisingly, in the world’s sympathetic eyes, children are at the centre.
One of the major problems at the moment relates to the nature of the civil administration of the government, spurred by the political leadership of the country. The delivering of aid by the world’s leading international agencies, including UN agencies, will very much depend on the enabling behaviour of the civil administration. The solving of the problems of the civil administration should not be left to run its own course but rather the political and community leadership must make their presence felt. Purely compassionate actions to help the victims will not suffice; creating strong pressure to get the civil administration to act in a manner that is appropriate to this tragic situation is the duty of the community and one that should not be ignored. If it is, all the good will of the community will undoubtedly fail under a civil administration system that is unable to deal with the situation.
UNICEF must be specially lauded for its attempt to bring the issue of children to the world’s attention. Their work in trying to get schools reopened and to deal with the psychological aspects of children’s problems, shows an understanding of the type of social implications that come with such a catastrophe. There are a number of local organisations too, who are focussing almost entirely on the issue of children affected by the tsunami. The government should assist such efforts in a specific way and work towards a timetable for the genuine realisation of the goal of getting the children back to school. Teachers need community and government support if they are return to school. They also need to show their own sense of bravery and compassion if they wish to help children return to their normal environment. Such effort is particularly important for those children who have been left orphaned and who therefore especially require a familiar environment where they can feel supported and protected. The quick manner in which Thai parents and the military reacted to support children is an example that Sri Lanka must follow.
