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Alhaji Bah, a worker with the UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, reports on the UNICEF Somalia site,“Following the disaster of 26 December 2004, UNICEF supported the establishment of temporary classrooms in Hafun . . . . After their lives were disrupted by the tsunami, the girls were encouraged to attend school . . . . Faduma jumped at the opportunity.” The UN also works toward alleviating the effects of human-made as well as natural disasters. For example, UNICEF’s response to the civil war in Syria, which began in 2011 and continues into 2015, has helped to support the health and education needs of the Syrians affected by the conflict.In 2014,it had provided temporary safe drinking water solutions to 2 million and,with its lead partner the World Health Organization, polio vaccines to 2.9 million children under the age of five. And while it reports that other initiatives, such as providing educational material to children, have fallen short and are severely under-funded, it helps to provide a voice for the voiceless as it continues to monitor the needs of the Syrian people. As the UN disaster relief system confronts challenges such as in Somalia following the 2006 Indian Ocean tsunami and the ongoing Syrian Civil War, it remains true to its original humanitarian goals. Since its beginning, the United Nations has worked through its various agencies to bring assistance where people are hungry or lack shelter, education, or medical care.

Bilaal Rajan, Canada’s child ambassador to UNICEF, on a field visit to Malawi in 2007. Rajan began working toward the betterment of kids across the world, including the program Canada Kids Earthquake Challenge for tsunami relief in 2004.

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The United Nations