World Vision in Thailand has found that livelihood security two years after the Asia Tsunami has recovered to a level near to or what it was prior to the disaster.
Support for education has increased, and community relationships have strengthened through work on rehabilitation projects, the charity reports.
The findings form part of a comprehensive Final Programme Evaluation undertaken by independent evaluators TANGO International, who surveyed 1,565 households and forty focus groups in World Vision programme areas, in addition to community and staff directed questionnaires.
More than 8,000 people were declared dead or missing in Thailand following the 2004 disaster, with around 300 villages across six provinces were impacted. Tourism, fishery and agricultural losses were substantial. An estimated 58,500 people were affected by the disaster and close to 1,500 children lost one or both parents.
The study found that individuals are returning to their primary livelihoods and asset ownership has returned to pre-tsunami levels - boat ownership, which dropped more than 40 per cent as a result of the tsunami, is now back to pre-tsunami levels. World Vision's intervention in this sector included provision of assets, training, cash and support for livelihood groups.
"Livelihood groups, which were formed for activities such as fishing, batik-making and tourism ventures were clearly a focus, not just for economic support, but for communities to reconnect and rebuild. Women in particular were enthusiastic about their role in the groups and the opportunity to be able to work together, socialise and provide tangible support to their families," said Dr Jamo Huddle of World Vision's Tsunami Response Team.
