Text and photos by Maude Froberg, International Federation Regional Information Officer in Phuket, Thailand
In many ways, Thailand has seen a remarkable recovery from the December 2004 tsunami disaster. For one, the tourism industry has bounced back; the Kasikorn Research Centere estimating a rise of almost 90 per cent in the number of people visiting the country's tsunami-affected regions from 2005.
Yet, evidence of the tragedy remains visible. Warnings signs that read "Tsunami Hazard Zone" have been put up all along the coast and more than 50 early warning towers rise above pristine beaches and fishing villages.
Near the fishing village of Ban Naem Khem, the Tsunami Victim Cemetery is under construction. This will be the last place of rest for the nameless unidentified victims; unregistered workers from neighboring countries, lost family members and friends from local villages.
In the far corner the last piece is being added to a huge sculpture of a wave that looms over ten dark-grey cement pillars. Behind the sculpture are two buidings where ceremonies of all religions can be held.
"We want this place to belong to everyone," says Police Lieutenant Colonel Annuchit Boonyapatipask, who leads the work at the Tsunami Victim Identification Centre. "Therefore, the wall around the cemetery is low, so people can look in, and the lights will be on all night."
Behind him, simple concrete gravestones wait to be marked with a number corresponding to an unidentified body. Altogether 410 bodies have been buried here, but their DNA is on file and each have been implanted with microchips and enclosed in aluminium coffins so they can be disinterred later if progress on identification is made.
"The tsunami is not over for us. Our work continues," Annuchit Boonyapatipask says.
Though not involved in the Government's efforts to identify victims, the Red Cross Red Crescent has supported some families in their endeavours to bring the bodies of relatives home. For some, the cost of travelling to tsunami-affected provinces to collect their loved ones is prohibitively expensive.
In December 2005, the Finnish Red Cross, in cooperation with the Finnish Disaster Victim identification team, committed to provide financial support for the repatriation and burial of tsunami victims whose families could not afford the costs of travel and transport.
The assistance covered the travel of the victim's immediate family. In all over 100 bodies have been transported back to their homes with the support of the Finnish Red Cross.
"We have to remember that many of these families were left doubly exposed to the disaster," explains Henna Korta, the Finnish Red Cross' country coordinator in Thailand. "Not only have they lost a love one, the person sent away was very often also the one earning a living for the family. Therefore, they are in need of financial assistance, something that we can help with."
As is the case in other countries that were affected by the tsunami, the Red Cross Red Crescent is not only supporting communities as they recover from the disaster, but is also supporting them to prepare for future disasters.
In Phuket, the "Disaster Safety Mind" campaign - organized by the Thai Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - is raising public awareness about natural disasters; about what can be done by individuals and communities to reduce their impact.
In one of the six big tents set up on a sports ground, a crowd of young schoolgirls are gathered. In front of her giggling friends young Keysorn is about to finish practising resuscitation techniques on a first aid mannequin.
"Well, I struggled a bit," Keysorn laughs, self-effacingly. "But on the other hand, we need to practice. When my nephew almost drowned in a pool, I was the one saving his life."
Wantanee Kongsomboon, Deputy Director of Relief and Health Bureau with the Thai Red Cross, is pleased with this opportunity to raise disaster awareness among young people.
"Earlier, many people in Thailand believed that big disasters were something that happened in faraway places, but that has changed after the tsunami," she says.
"Training in first aid for children is part of this necessary preparedness. Sure, there are those that don't want to be reminded of the disaster, but if lives can be saved, they ought to be saved."