(Photo courtesy Vision Beyond Borders)
Myanmar (MNN/VBB) — Eight days ago, heavy rains came as another blow to the village of Mawchi in Kayah State, Myanmar.
Already dealing with the country’s worst floods in 100 years, which
struck from late July to August, the deluge caused a river to flood a
bridge, wash out roads, and slow down emergency personnel dealing with
deadly landslides in the area. Local authorities are relocating those
living in disaster-hit areas to relief camps.
Dyann Romeijn, a spokeswoman for Vision Beyond Borders, says,
“It’s in a village that our contacts work with, out of the refugee
camps, and it’s predominantly a Christian village. I believe that there
are 792 victims that are now displaced that are staying in a church, a
middle school, an old hospital, and a high school.”
Why has there been next to nothing on the disaster in the news? “They
don’t have technology. They don’t have electricity. They don’t have a
lot of those things to get the word out. So, it’s been about a week
since this happened, but our contacts are working to get aid into these
people.”
(Photo courtesy Vision Beyond Borders/Landslide rescue)
Local authorities, army personnel, and police teamed up with
residents to carry out rescue operations. Romeijn explains, “There [are]
medical needs. They’re trying to get food and temporary housing to
these people. It’s a very poor village. [Communication is] difficult
because this is a village that is in a very remote area in the
mountains.” Aid reached some of the victims, she adds, but it’s likely
not everyone got help. “In a lot of these areas, the Christians are
highly persecuted, so a lot of times there’s not a lot of outside
assistance that will come for Christian believers, because they’re
already kind of ostracized.”
VBB relies on their partnerships to provide a needs assessment. “It
looks like, from pictures, that a lot of bridges may be taken out, so it
may be very difficult for them to get to all of the people. Just pray
for wisdom in how to get to the people they need to get to.” Although
there’s a team heading to the area in December, says Romeijn. “It sounds
like a situation where the needs are pretty immediate, so we will
probably just send the funds for our contacts there to be able to
purchase the items that are needed and get them to the people right
away.”
(Photo courtesy Vision Beyond Borders)
Romeijn says the affected village has a lot of Christians in it, but
it’s still a Gospel opportunity for the community. “It’s important for
the Church in America to come alongside them because there isn’t a lot
of support for them in their own country.” Plus, a visit means the
believers haven’t been forgotten. “It’s for them to see the Body of
Christ come alongside them, to be reminded and strengthened in their own
faith that God loves them and is providing for them.”
Click here for Vision Beyond Borders’ Web site.
Source: Mission Network
News
Topic: Deadly landslide hits Karenni Christian village in Myanmar
