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Your help is needed. Pray for the survivors. Pray that the government will continue to lift their restrictions for aid to come into the country. Give generously. Donate to help provide relief as was done following the Tsunami.
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Gina Waldron
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From Friday night, May 2, to Saturday noon, May 3, Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar, for more than 10 hours. Winds of up to 150 miles per hour ripped through the vast swamplands of the Irrawaddy delta, reducing bamboo houses to rubble. Most deaths were likely due to the massive tidal wave, estimated at up to 12 feet high. People had no where to flee. As many as 10,000 people died in one coastal town alone.
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Formerly a British colony known as Burma, colonial rulers encouraged rice cultivation in the Irrawaddy delta and Myanmar became the world’s largest exporter of rice, once known as the "rice bowl of Asia.” Approximately 3.5 million people live in this region’s towns and villages. It is one of Myanmar’s most densely populated areas, which adds to the severe devastation that occurred there.
The latest death toll has been estimated at more than 100,000. Because the Irrawaddy delta is virtually cut off (1,930 square miles remain under water), aid is slow in coming. Many of the dead are floating in the water, making disease a very present problem. Upwards of one million people are in need of shelter and other assistance. Andrew Kirkwood, of Save the Children, believes that 90 to 95 per cent of the homes in the delta have been wiped out.
Because this area of Myanmar produces 65 per cent of the country’s rice, the worst may be yet to come. In addition, it is a logistical nightmare to get to the remote area and the spread of disease is expected. Obtaining safe drinking water is a monumental problem. Already living in poor conditions, these people must have assistance in order to recover.
Earlier this year, Bill McDonough, director of Partners in Progress spent four weeks teaching Christian leaders in the capital of Yangon, a city of about seven million people. The city suffered terribly during the cyclone and although it is reported that electricity and water have been restored to limited sections of the city, thousands are in need of food, water, shelter and other disaster relief. There are Christians in that city who are reeling from the impact of the cyclone and they need our help.
Daniel Hamm, missionary in neighboring Thailand, preached earlier this year in the city of Pyay, Myanmar, taught a Bible course near Yangon, and distributed Bibles.
He reports that other missionaries in Southeast Asia make regular trips to support the struggling Christians, many of whom live on the equivalent of $50 to $100 per year (See the complete story in the online Christian Chronicle.)
According to McDonough, he has local contacts in place to deliver the necessary aid. Bill has borrowed $200,000 and gone to Myanmar to begin the relief efforts of churches of Christ. You may go to their website and donate by credit card.
Sid Allen, president of Rapha International says that several Texas organizations are cooperating with MARCH for Christ (a Filipino organization of Christians) to maximize the effectiveness of their response to the disaster in Myanmar. Rapha International (Fort Worth), Global Samaritan Resources (Abilene), and Bread for a Hungry World (North Richland Hills) are sharing available funds to initiate relief as soon as personnel can investigate and determine the best way to help.
Your help is needed. First of all, pray. Pray for the survivors. Pray that the government will continue to lift their restrictions for aid to come into the country. Pray that Christian workers can touch the hearts and lives of those in need, showing them the love of Jesus.
Next, give generously. Donate to help provide relief as was done following the Tsunami. Here are several brotherhood agencies where you may send your contribution to provide emergency relief:
Bread for a Hungry World
Winston Bell
6300 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX 76180
817-281-0773
http://www.breadforahungryworld.org
Global Samaritan Resources
Ed Enzor, Ph.D., Director of Operations
101 Walnut Street
Abilene, Texas 79601
325-676-9991
Email: ed.enzor@globalsam.org
www.globalsam.org
Healing Hands International
Gerald Hurst
455 McNally Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
615-832-2000
Fax: 615-832-2002
www.hhi-aid.org
Partners in Progress
Bill McDonough
PO Box 150, Little Rock, AR 72203-0150
501-374-5761; Fax 5761 FAX: (01) 501-374-5763
Email: pipchesser@aol.com
www.partnersinprogress.org
Asian Office:
P.O. Box 12000
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel. 855-023-22-08-41
Rapha International
2313 Ludelle Street, Forth Worth, TX 76105
817-536-3383
Email: rapha2313@sbcglobal.net
www.raphainternational.org
White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ Relief Ministries
Don Yelton or Brenda Adkins
3201 North 7th Street, West Monroe, LA 71291
318-396-6000
Email: donyelton@wfrchurch.org, or badkins@wfr.org
http://www.wfrchurch.org/relief/index.html
World Bible School of Tulare County
PO Box 3700
Visalia, CA 93278
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