According to Matichon, the local newspaper headline "Tsunami brings
Mokens to poverty" hit all on December 25, 2006.  The newspaper stated
that according to Ms Naowanit, a Thai social worker, living in Lao
Island "the Moken in Lao island face inadequate family income". Some of them

have become beggars while others have begun offering their children for sale.

A child may cost as little as 500 too 800 baht depending on the age and

skin profection. A hundred and thirty two Moken children are in need of adequte

clothing, twenty four are orphans and many are sufferering from skin diseases

mainly due to unhygienic sanitation conditions"


ActionAid Thailand has been working closely with the Moken community in
Lao island since the past 2 years. It has not been an easy task.
Barriers we face are mainly in the area of communications, and staff
have had to become accustomed to severe weather conditions common to
that part of the country. However, we realize that these are minor
obstacles and if we have to achieve our goal, these can be easily
overcome.