Healing of Tsunami Affected Children

Healing of Tsunami Affected Children

By Mohammad Azim Khan Keyani

Was watched on TV, heard on radio and in newspapers read
In 26 December 2004 tsunami thousands of children were dead

It caused damage to lives and property and spread fear
Earthquake off the coast of Indonesia in 40 years was the most severe

Based on information which by various sources has been collected
Millions of children by this worst catastrophe have been affected

From their families many of them have been separated
Are now lonely, left homeless and deeply desperated

These children are the most vulnerable at great numbers
Particularly those without parents and close family members

To provide complete protection to this huge number is quite hard
In this regard cooperation is needed from all over the world

If affected children are not protected from further harm
Will suffer more and their lives would be without charm

They could easily become victim of exploitation and abuse
Possible efforts must be made for their sufferings to reduce

We need to make sure that in affected countries any black sheep
Could not use children for any labour particularly which is cheap

With their families and communities if they are reunited
Will gradually recover from the shock and may be delighted

Of their immediate family members who have lost the care
To reunite such children, a second we should not spare

On the emotional well-being of children may by enormous impact
If they remain within their communities, there may be less affect

Going back to routine life as soon as possible is good
For them we must ensure shelter, water and nutritious food

From all possible harms to children if we want fully to stop
Global level efforts would be needed from bottom to top

All children separated from their families must be registered
In an organized manner the whole process be monitored

To rest and to play such children may be placed
Close to shelters of families which are also displaced

With full honesty be implemented and not merely decided
To take care of children, support to family members be provided

Possible facilities be provided for good health and sanitation
Arrangements be made so children could continue their education

It is very important for children to school should be back
Will recover from trauma and shock and come on normal track

Children will get nothing only from passing of resolutions
Whose families cannot be traced, require long-term solutions

To ensure maximum safety of children in various localities
Lot of work is needed by UN, NGOs and local authorities

Positive role shall have to be played by each agency
To protect children, immunization is needed as an emergency

Those traumatized, for some time, proper care would be needing
Particularly, malnourished children would badly require special feeding

Children would need proper guidance and also be motivated
To accommodate them, school will have to be rehabilitated

Tetanus, measles, malaria, water borne and acute respiratory diseases
If prevention and treatment are not done, health risk further increases

For basic necessities of life children towards which look
Someone will have to provide them clean water to drink and cook

Because of lot of debris and facial contaminants in different lands
Advocacy is needed for water purification and washing of hands

Need trauma counseling and other support to come out of shock
Children need safe place to live and opportunities to talk

In order to identify separated children need to look around
So that their parents, families and caregivers are found

Should ask children their own plus mother and father name
Date and place of birth and also from where they came

If could not speak due to young age or because of fear
Could be identified from clothes on missing day would wear

We must ask such children about each of their needs
Try to meet them so God will reward for good deeds

To live with own family is every child’s basic right
Sincere and quick efforts be made for all to reunite

As soon as relationship is confirmed, it is quite better
So that children and families could start living together

Psychosocial aid to the traumatized children should be delivered
Until from this catastrophe they are fully recovered

Children be encouraged to express their sorrows to ease
The grief and tension and anxiety of this tragedy may release

If support from teachers, friends and parents is mobilized
It will definitely help children to recover who are traumatized


Innocent, cute, lovely, and beautiful like pearls, diamonds and gold
Still children are vulnerable of being slaves and sold

There are some painful news of child trafficking unfortunately
Relevant agencies will have to be watchful all the time adequately

It is injustice of society or perhaps children’s bad luck
Young innocents are raped and missing after tsunami struck

Tsunami affected children may now be exposed more
To predatory sex offenders and people-smugglers than ever before

For children who are displaced by war and natural disaster
Play and sport serve as trauma therapy to recover faster

To express by art or drama an opportunity if we give
Through such activities affected children normal life can live

Children need to feel safe and with known people have link
It will reduce fears and create atmosphere in future to think

Serving the tsunami victims is no doubt a great cause
This will enable children to bear their grief and loss

Anyone in the whole world who has sympathetic feeling
Must help these affected children in the processing of healing