Devastation in Myanmar

Cyclone Nargis slammed into the southern coast of Myanmar (previously known as Burma) Saturday, May 3, 2008.  Early estimates are that Nargis has left at least 22,000 people dead and another 41,000 missing; but the toll is expected to rise, maybe even to as high as 100,000. Millions of people in Myanmar have been left homeless by the devastating cyclone.

Baptists in Myanmar
Myanmar counts 1,100,000 Baptists, mostly located in South-Myanmar where Cyclone Nargis hit the hardest.  As a result of this geographic concentration, Baptists are among those most affected by the cyclone and floods. Baptist buildings and personal property of Baptist members have been destroyed or badly damaged. Virginia Baptists’ relief aid to Myanmar will be accomplished through the Myanmar Baptist Convention, the largest in Asia.

Response Updates

Friday, May 16, 2008

Virginia Baptists Assisting the Myanmar Baptist Convention Relief supplies are beginning to make their way into Myanmar.  To date, however, the government of Myanmar continues to refuse visas allowing entry to most international aid workers, insisting that relief supplies be distributed by local workers.  For this reason, the prospect for sending Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief leaders and/or volunteers looks dim, at least for the immediate future. Virginia Baptists’ relief initiative for Myanmar will be to assist the efforts of the Myanmar Baptist Convention.  To this point, a major obstacle has been difficulties in establishing steady and reliable communication with Baptist leaders in Myanmar.  Hopefully, help in overcoming this difficulty is at hand.  Dr. Bela Szilagyi (CEO of Hungarian Baptist Aid) and Daniel Osgyan (International Relief Coordinator of HBAid) have been granted visas and expect to enter the country within the next few days.  They will work together with Myanmar Baptists, coordinate relief efforts, and deliver the first initial relief response of the worldwide Baptist family on behalf of Baptist World Aid.  Virginia Baptists are included in this worldwide Baptist family and work in partnership with Baptist World Aid.  An initial amount of $10,000 has been designated by the VBMB to assist with Myanmar relief. Financial contributions sent to the VBMB and designated for “Myanmar Cyclone Relief” will be distributed to the Myanmar Baptist Convention’s relief effort in cooperation with Baptist World Aid.

 

Friday, May 9, 2008

Update Regarding Efforts to Provide International Relief Aid Hungarian Baptist Aid is one of the international relief partners that the VBMB is working with related to possible relief efforts in Myanmar.  David Gal, an HBAid staff member, is currently with a team in Bangkok, Thailand, where they have been awaiting opportunity to carry relief supplies into Myanmar.  The VBMB’s Disaster Relief Coordinator, Terry Raines, had planned to join this team in Bangkok.  However, after talking with David, this plan has been changed. David reports that relief organization leaders were informed this morning that the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok has closed for holidays, and apparently a decision was made prior to the closing not to allow relief teams, equipment, or supplies to enter.  He said that there may be a chance that individual relief leaders will be allowed to travel to the capital city to meet with Myanmar nationals to assist with planning, etc.  If an opportunity to travel to the capital city presents itself and if Terry Raines’ experience in developing plans to support the relief ministries of nationals can be helpful, he will go at that time. In summary: it is not likely that the VBMB will be able to send teams to help.  We will, however, continue our efforts to provide assistance.  If Myanmar Baptist leaders need assistance in planning, organizing, and developing a relief strategy, we will try to help.  Also, we will send funds directly to Myanmar Baptists to allow them to purchase supplies.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

International Baptist Community Offering Aid An international Baptist disaster relief team is being assembled by Baptist World Aid with hope that the government of Myanmar will grant visas allowing their entry to help.  Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s Disaster Relief ministries have been asked to send two aid workers to become parts of this team.  The Virginia Baptist workers will join Baptist colleagues from Australia, Hungary and North Carolina.  Other Baptist unions in Norway, Britain, Sweden, Canada and the US are also offering assistance.  The international team is staging in Bangkok, Thailand, where they await visas allowing their entry into Myanmar.  The Hungarian embassy in Bangkok is seeking the humanitarian aid visas for the team. The team will seek to provide basic food items, medications, tents, blankets, water purification, search and rescue, basic clean up and caring hearts to the storms victims.  Considering the magnitude of the disaster, it is going to take a sustained effort for bringing relief to the affected.  With freshly planted rice being one of the victims of the disaster, we can anticipate a long term need for relief.

Your Help is Needed

Financial contributions from Virginia Baptist individuals and churches will help to expand the number of victims that can be reached with these ministries of relief.

The Virginia Baptist Mission Board is accepting monetary donations to assist with the disaster response. Donate online with our secure shopping cart.

Or make checks payable to “Virginia Baptist Mission Board” (with the designation “Disaster Relief” on the memo line) and send them to:

Disaster Relief
Virginia Baptist Resource Center
2828 Emerywood Parkway
Richmond, VA 23294