The United Nations hailed the Thai government's efforts to re-open schools in the tsunami-hit southern provinces one week after the disaster occurred.

"We applaud Thailand's enormous efforts to ensure that all schools reopened on Tuesday as scheduled," Inese Zalitis, Representative for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Thailand, was quoted press release as saying.

Since the tsunami struck, local authorities, parents, militarypersonnel and volunteers have been working round the clock to repair and rebuild destroyed schools, said the press release issued by UNICEF on Wednesday.

In instances where schools were too heavily damaged, tents and outdoor spaces were turned into classrooms to accommodate the children.

When the devastating tsunami attacked 6 coastal provinces of Thailand, all local students were in their mid-term break.

While the exact number of children death and injury is still unknown, UNICEF warned that many children have been traumatized bywhat they experienced and school is one of the best ways for them to start to deal with their trauma.

"By going back to school", Zalitis said, "children are providedwith a sense of routine and a semblance of normalcy, in a safe andfamiliar environment."