Photo via mnnonline.org

Cyclone devastation haunts survivors in Myanmar; Christians bring hope

It's been nearly four months since Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar, reports MNN.

According to the United Nations, the storm's wrath left 138,000 people dead or unaccounted for and 800,000 homeless. The fragile infrastruction of what used to be SouthEast Asia's "rice bowl" collapsed under tremendous winds and a storm surge that resembled a tsunami.

Today, vast tracts of land remain a sodden ruin, haunting the potential for enough food in the coming months.

Charles Debter with Global Aid Network says their team is responding to the immediate needs and the future without a harvest. "We have been able to ship food to Myanmar and are working with partners there to get it into the country and distribute it out into the Irrawady River Delta."

Agreements are in place to allow Global Aid Network to assume the leadership toward helping six villages with a combined population of about 30,000 people who continue to face desperate conditions. Debter says they're "helping to build six schools and houses. Two of them have been completed. In early August , the first one of those was officially presented to the Myanmar Ministry of Education." School supplies were also given through a backpack project for the students who will begin attending the schools in the fall.

But new schools and new homes aren't enough. Many of the farmers lost their water buffalo-- their only means of planting the rice fields. With the planting season rapidly drawing to a close, there will be a scant harvest if planting doesn't take place soon, which will complicate the food crisis.

Global Aid is also trying to supply farm implements to help plant the fields. For about $2,000 it is possible to purchase and provide a simple tractor that is very much like an over-sized, motorized tiller. These are available, and Global Aid Network would like to provide a minimum of five of these tractors in each of the six villages where this ministry is focusing its assistance efforts. Therefore, to provide 30 tractors, $60,000 is needed as soon as possible to provide for the purchase and delivery of these farming implements.

Food, shelter, and education are good, but none of that addresses the vastly-polluted waters since the disaster floods. Bodies still float in the main waterways, making it unsafe as potable sources. Global Aid helped address this by training with local church communities to set up water filtration systems in the area.

Debter says actions speak louder than words at times like these. "When you're caring for the needs of an individual--the whole person, and that is shown--it's demonstrated, you're really being an open witness of the good news of Christ."

SALE! 40% OFF! How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week

[09/01/2008]

Print Version