Following the earthquake this afternoon (28 March 2568) that was felt in many parts of the country, Save the Children Thailand has expressed deep concern about the situation and put forward policy recommendations to protect children and youth from future disasters. 

Over the past year, Save the Children Thailand has collaborated with its network partners to develop a comprehensive safety framework for educational institutions (B.E. 2565–2573) and formally submitted it to the relevant agencies. The aim is to ensure that every school in Thailand is prepared to systematically respond to disasters, especially for the most vulnerable children in emergency situations. 

The safety framework is built on three key pillars. In the context of earthquakes and other emergencies, Save the Children Thailand emphasizes Pillar 2: Safety Management and Continuity of Education, which includes immediately actionable measures such as: 

• Establishing disaster response plans and conducting regular evacuation drills in schools. 

• Preparing contingency measures in case of school closures. 

• Assessing damage from disasters. 

• Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each type of disaster. 

• Clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of teachers and staff. 

• Setting up effective communication systems within schools and between schools and parents during emergencies. 

  
  

Based on Save the Children Thailand’s experience responding to earthquakes in countries such as Nepal, Turkey, Japan, and Afghanistan, studies have shown that 75% of deaths occur due to building collapses within the first few seconds, with girls being at higher risk because of social, cultural, and informational constraints. Training children in the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” procedure during earthquakes and implementing clear, practical evacuation plans are fundamental measures that can save lives in emergency situations. 

Save the Children Thailand is urging the government and educational authorities to consider adopting this safety framework at the policy level. The proposal should start in high-risk areas, with the goal that every school in Thailand will have a standardized safety management system that can be activated immediately during a crisis. 

Mr. Guillaume Rachou, Executive Director of Save the Children Thailand, stated, 

"Save the Children Thailand and our network partners have prepared a proposal for a ‘Comprehensive Safety Framework for Educational Institutions’ and have officially submitted it to the government. We want to see clear evidence that these recommendations are being implemented at the policy level. Today’s earthquake is a wake-up call that the risks are real, and that children are still not systematically protected. Whether it is through disaster response plans, evacuation drills, or even alarm systems that both adults and children can understand and react to immediately, we must act on what is necessary before children are forced to face preventable risks." 

In addition, Save the Children Thailand has offered supplementary recommendations for household-level safety management by encouraging parents to adopt the “8 Safety Recommendations for Children During Earthquakes” in their daily routines. These guidelines can be downloaded from Save the Children Thailand’s website at www.savethechildren.or.th.