THEY are the Lost Children.

But now charity workers - paid for in part by Huddersfield people - are working hard to try and reunite them with their families.

The children are those orphaned in the horrific earthquake which swept the Iranian city of Bam, killing many thousands of people.

Official figures say 6,600 children lost their parents last December.

But the United Nations' children's organisation, Unicef, suspects the figure is much higher.

Although the Iranian government believes that all orphans and children separated from their parents have been identified, more cases are still being found.

Unicef is working to make sure the children are cared for and, where possible, reunited with their families.

Part of the cost of that operation was met by Examiner readers, who raised more than £6,500 after a Unicef appeal in the paper.

Unicef spokesman Louis Coles said: "In the days immediately after the earthquake, unaccompanied children were the most vulnerable.

"They were in shock, with no one to care for them and protect them from further danger.

"Unicef and its partners worked fast to ensure they were put into temporary care, either with foster families or in one of the forty-five orphanages in Kerman, the next large city close to Bam. In cases where it was possible, extended family members were identified for children to stay with."

Now, the process of tracing parents or family members has begun.

Many parents have been looking for their children. Details of those who have registered a search for children need to be cross-checked with the information about unaccompanied children.

Unicef has been acting as co-ordinator, encouraging all parties to agree to share information and creating a new database system that can be used by everyone.

Unicef has a strong role as mediator, bringing together disparate parties to help the process of reunifying families.

The charity is also providing transport, equipment and support for the many local volunteers who are keen to help bring families back together.

Mr Coles said: "Reuniting families is a sensitive issue, particularly when the majority of them are still coping with grief and frustration.

"Unicef will help this by providing counselling and family reunification kits, containing clothes, games and school materials.

"These facilities will also be provided for families who need support to prevent further separation, for example widows with children, who may be finding it difficult to cope.

"Interventions like these are vital to restore hope in what will be a long process for the children and families."