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January 5, 2005

Concern for 'tsunami generation' increases

Topics: Southeast Asia Earthquake and Tsunami

As it always is, it's the children that suffer the most...

ABCNEWS ONLINE Wednesday, January 5, 2005. 1:25pm (AEDT)
Concerns for child victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis are growing as torrential rain hampers aid efforts and survivors begin succumbing to disease.

The United Nations says the estimated death toll from the December 26 disaster is still about 150,000 but is likely to rise.

[Click image to enlarge - Thousands at risk: UNICEF says the impact on children has been under-estimated. (AFP)]

The UN children's fund (UNICEF) estimates that about 50,000 children have died in the disaster and that tens of thousands have been orphaned.

Up to half the population in some affected areas is under 19.

"We probably underestimated the impact on children," UNICEF spokeswoman Wivina Belmonte said.

"Many people are already talking about the tsunami generation.

"Children were not able to cope with the rush of water in the first days, and since then, they are the first hit in terms of poor access to water and poor access to food, so we suspect that the numbers ... of fatalities will rise."

UN officials also say they are concerned children orphaned or separated from their parents by the tsunami might be falling prey to criminal gangs bent on selling them into slavery.  Source...

Posted by Hyscience at January 5, 2005 4:30 AM

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• Concern for 'tsunami generation' increases - Jan 05, 2005