CHILDREN were the worst affected by the Boxing Day tsunamis, in which thousands were killed and millions left orphaned and homeless.

Unicef the United Nations Children's Fund, has pledged its long-term commitment to the children of the tsunami floods and we are asking you to do the same.

Like an awful nightmare, for the second year running, the day after Christmas saw the world rock on its axis as the massive earthquake that unleashed the tidal waves struck in the Indian Ocean.

It was exactly a year to the day, since an earthquake struck Iran's historic city of Bam, killing more than 30,000 people in 12 seconds, destroying nearly all the city's schools, hospitals and homes and leaving behind a city of rubble and dust.

One year on from that disaster, the children of Bam still face problems. But if there can be hope in horrors such as this, it has to be the opportunity to make the city of Bam a better place for children by introducing things like child-friendly schools, improved access to early child care and better water and sanitation facilities, especially for girls.

Already working in Iran, Unicef was among the first aid agencies on the scene last year, providing immediate emergency relief in the weeks following the earthquake. And they remain there today, continuing the relief effort.

With a massive amount of rebuilding still necessary, many of the city's 24,000 children currently attend school in one of the 100 temporary pre-fabricated units, half of them supplied and equipped by Unicef.

Children are always the most vulnerable in any disaster and as the horrors of the tsunami floods continue to unfold throughout much of south Asia, Unicef is again working alongside other agencies, providing desperately needed clean water, medicines and shelter with the primary focus on keeping children protected and alive.

The task ahead is immense. Unicef's immediate appeal for funds is aimed at providing urgent emergency relief to continue to save children's lives.

This will be followed by a second phase of reconstruction and rehabilitation, lasting 12 months, for which huge amounts of money will be needed.

The task to calculate how much has not yet even begun. And after that, there will still be needs to meet.

By buying a wristband, you can help secure the future of thousands.

in the years to come.