Baptists in Myanmar (formerly Burma) were among those hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis, which struck the country May 3, packing winds of 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour) and causing widespread flooding.
The Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) lost more than 10,000 members who died as a result of the cyclone. More than 94,000 other members suffered loss of home and other property. The total death toll from the cyclone has topped 130,000 and more than 2 million are homeless, according to CNN.
A leader of the MBC said Burmese Baptists have put plans in place to assist those affected by the natural disaster. He said the basic needs of the people are food, clothes and tents or construction materials but added, "it is advised to assist in cash instead of in kind." (For information on giving, visit www.alsbom.org.)
BWAid Rescue24, a search, rescue and relief effort of Baptist World Aid, sent a team to Myanmar to do assessment of the damage and needs and to offer aid. BWAid Rescue24 registered with the United Nations Development Programme and opened an office in the damaged MBC building in Yangon (also known as Rangoon), the largest city in the Southeast Asian country. The team is working through MBC to offer aid to six camps where internally displaced persons are housed.
The team reported that "the assistance is literally saving lives at this point with situations of widespread diarrhea and serious electricity and water shortages." Also people "are desperately seeking shelter; the more fortunate get plastic sheeting, while others are trying to fabricate huts from palm trees and bamboo."
Southern Baptists are responding through a command center established in Thailand. To date, more than 100 nationals have trained there with plans to return to their country to meet needs. Baptist Global Response (BGR), a Southern Baptist relief and development organization, has also established partnerships with Baptists inside the country. Through the World Hunger Fund, BGR hopes to provide at least 10,000 meals to those in need. Five thousand water filtration units are also on the way to the area.
"Prayers are greatly needed for those suffering in Myanmar and those who so greatly feel called to help," said Jeff Palmer, BGR executive director. (BWA, BGR)
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