When a storm stronger than Hurricane Katrina raked the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma) May 3, Baptists across the United States and world readied to respond to a broken nation with dire needs.
But military resistance has made it a challenge for them to find ways to help the thousands of people who are homeless and at risk of disease.
At press time, Myanmar’s military reported that more than 22,000 people have died since Cyclone Nargis struck, but the top U.S. diplomat in the country said the toll could exceed 100,000, according to CNN.
In addition, up to 1 million people are homeless in the wake of the cyclone, according to Baptist Global Response
CNN reported as many as 6 million people lived in the Irrawaddy Delta, the low-lying region that bore the brunt of the storm. More than 2,000 square miles of land are under water.
(BGR), a Southern Baptist development and relief organization.
BGR and other relief agencies are concerned about outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and illnesses such as diarrhea that often occur in the wake of natural disasters because of dirty water and poor sanitation.
But movement into the country is at a crawl due to Myanmar’s military restrictions.
The United Nations, for example, sent two planes May 9 carrying enough high-energy biscuits to feed 95,000 people. The government seized the planes’ contents, according to CNN.
Tony Banbury, the U.N. World Food Programme’s regional director for Asia, said this action is another example of the military government "actively getting in the way of relief getting to the victims."
The challenge for Baptists now is to find ways to help despite resistance.
"Our priority is now to establish reliable communication with partners in Myanmar," said Jeff Palmer, BGR executive director.
Southern Baptists already have allocated an initial $100,000 to provide basic necessities for people affected by the cyclone, Palmer said.
Once a comprehensive on-ground assessment of the situation can be made, relief efforts will proceed in partnership with key Myanmar nationals, who will be instrumental in any response Southern Baptists are able to implement.
Aid organizations expect that besides food and clean water, the most urgent needs will include plastic sheeting, water purification tablets, mosquito nets and emergency health kits. "This looks to have the makings of a long-term response, so we want to lay a good foundation as we start," Palmer added.
"We are beginning to ready partners here in the U.S. in case Myanmar’s government decides to allow international aid groups to enter the country and we are able to mount a response from here."
Other Baptist groups are also poised to respond, such as Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief arm of Baptist World Alliance (BWA), which has pledged $50,000 to aid cyclone victims.
In addition, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has committed $5,000 and noted plans to continue contributions once further aid avenues are established in the country.
The German Baptist union has also made a provision of up to 40,000 euros for Myanmar relief.
Teams from Hungary and Australia that are part of BWAid Rescue24 and do search, rescue and relief work have bought $30,000 worth of basic food items, medication and blankets using funds donated by Hungarian Baptist Aid.
Bonny Resu, general secretary for Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), one of six continental unions of the BWA, and BWA regional secretary for Asia, said the APBF is "putting plans in place to provide food, drinking water, mosquito nets, temporary shelter, pots and pans and basic medicine."
APBF, working closely with BWAid, has appealed to Baptist churches on the Asian continent and in the Pacific to respond by making contributions for relief.
Baptists in Norway, Sweden, Canada, Hungary, Australia and Britain have pledged their assistance.
And Baptists in Virginia and North Carolina are readying teams to enter Myanmar, if permitted.
In the meantime, Palmer said Baptists in Alabama can get involved in relief efforts for Myanmar’s people by doing the most important thing Christians can do: praying that God would reveal His love to the country’s suffering multitudes.
"You can get involved right now by praying for those who are trying to recover from this disaster and those who are racing to help them restore their lives," Palmer said.
"Pray that God would open the doors to allow our trained disaster response people into the country. This is still a huge barrier."
Alabama Baptists are providing a way for those interested in assisting with relief efforts.
To help survivors of the Myanmar cyclone, send your check to: Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, P.O. Box 11870, Montgomery, AL 36111-0870
Please make checks payable to the State Board of Missions and indicate that the gift is for Myanmar Cyclone Relief.
For more information, call 1-800-264-1225. (BGR, TAB)
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