VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 8/7/15)—Massive floods and strong winds in Myanmar (formerly Burma) have impacted more than 259,000 people across 12 of Myanmar’s 14 states, according to a report of the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on August 5.
In recent days, the death toll has climbed to 69. The massive flooding occurred in the aftermath of Cyclone Komen which made landfall on July 30th. According to the UN report, priority needs include food, water and sanitation, access to health care and shelter.
In response, an initial $10,000 in One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) emergency relief funds is being sent to American Baptist International Ministries (IM) partner, the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) to help with the relief efforts.
IM received the following status update from Dr. Yam Kho Pau, general secretary of MBC:
“People from Chin State, Rakhine State, Kachin State, Magwe Region and Sagaing Region have been suffering from Komen Cyclone that left thousands of people homeless and food shortage. Due to landslides and flood, it is difficult to access the said affected places by roads. Therefore, relief goods are transported by government and private airlines.”
He continued, “As of Thursday, August 6, the delta areas of Myanmar such as Ayeyarwaddy Region, Pegu Region and Yangon Region have been affected by the flood as the impacts of the Komen Cyclone. Therefore, we are expecting more victims and affected families in the regions. The MBC Disaster Management Committee has been sourcing funds and donations not only from our local churches but also from our Global Mission partners abroad. The committee is sending a survey team to affected areas to collect data that to be used for rehabilitation projects.”
Churches in the United States and Puerto Rico are asked to keep the victims, their families, their churches and IM’s partners in Myanmar in prayer.
1. To make a tax-deductible contribution online, visit https://www.abc-usa.org/ and click “Give Online” at the top right of the page. In the “Comments” section, type “Myanmar Cyclone Relief.” 2. Give through your church, designating your gift for “Myanmar Cyclone Relief.” Or, click here to learn about more ways to give, referencing “Myanmar Cyclone Relief”
One Great Hour of Sharing is administered by the World Relief Committee of the Board of General Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA. The Committee facilitates American Baptist emergency relief, disaster rehabilitation, refugee work and the development of assistance by establishing policy guidelines and overseeing distribution of the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering received by churches. Learn more: http://www.abc-oghs.org/
American Baptist International Ministries celebrated 200 years of ministry in 2014. American Baptist International Ministries (IM) was organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America. It began its pioneer mission work in Burma, (now called Myanmar) and today serves God through more than 1,800 short and long term global servants in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationships with God and change their worlds through the power of the Spirit. It works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.