Myanmar Update

May 21, 2008

Christian Conference of Asia
c/o Payap University
Muang District, Chiang Mai 50000 , Thailand
Tel: +66-53-243906, 243907
E-mail: ccagensec@cca.org.hk

Mourning in Myanmar

While 2.4 million cyclone survivors strive for basic necessities of life, and relief agencies struggle to get aid to the most effected areas, Myanmar now officially begins the three-day mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in the storm. Yesterday, eighteen days after the cyclone, flags were lowered on half-mast in the country, as mark of respect for the victims.

The move could be a sign that Myanmar 's leaders now recognise the scale of the disaster, says BBC. On Monday, they agreed to accept more assistance from Asian neighbours - however critics say it is still not enough for all those in desperate need of help. BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says, "The firm line it [ Myanmar government] has taken - that it can cope without outside assistance - appears to be softening."

UN and other international organisations are struggling to get the necessary aid to the people in storm stricken areas. Among whom many are living in temporary camps, and whose homes have been washed away. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to arrive in Myanmar tomorrow and visit the storm-hit region, which will be followed by his participation in the donor's conference. 

Ecumenical Response 

CCA organised a meeting with Rev. Mar Gay Gui, General Secretary of Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC) on 20 May in Chiang Mai, where representatives from local and international church based organisations participated. 

The meeting was a significant occasion for the ecumenical community, who were eager to listen to first hand account of situation in Myanmar , and church's response to the crisis. Rev. Mar Gay Gui updated the colleagues and friends on how Myanmar people are going through difficult times, and are in need of prayers and help. He shared that many churches from different denominations are working together for the relief work in storm stricken areas. He shared that churches are collaborating with ACT International in Myanmar in providing basic necessities to the surviving communities. He said, "To cope with the crisis 'Myanmar Christian Coalition for Relief Work' has been formed, which is taking measures to deliver aid to the cyclone victims." He also said, "Data finding is another crucial area, which is much needed by the aid agencies to speed up the relief efforts, this is where the churches had been quite active and were able to collect the information necessary to support the aid work." 

When asked about the long term efforts for rehabilitation for the cyclone victims, Rev. Mar Gay Gui said, "The churches in Myanmar had been in contact with other churches and ecumenical organisations. MCC plans to organise trauma counseling sessions for the victims and skill enhancing trainings for the communities to cope with this crisis." He also identified "clothing" and "school kits" as one of the major needs in the cyclone hit areas, which was immediately taken into consideration by the church organisations present, who promised to deliver for this need.

In the end, Rev. Mar Gay Gui thanked CCA, Christ Church in Thailand (CCT), Payap University , Church World Service (CWS), Thailand Baptist Missionary Fellowship (TBMF), ACT International, other churches inside and outside Myanmar , ecumenical organisations and friends for their support. He said, "MCC appeals to all the churches to keep Myanmar and its people in their prayers, and provide help that is needed by their brothers and sisters, going through trying times." "I would also like to thank all the churches who had been a constant support and still are struggling with us to get the aid to the victims." He further added.

At the end of the meeting, CCA along with other church and ecumenical organisations presented their contributions for the relief work in Myanmar to Rev. Mar Gay Gui. The meeting was closed by a prayer for the victims, survivors and the lives lost in the cyclone. 

Dr Prawate Khid-arn shared updates of ecumenical response to the Myanmar crisis at Asian Human Rights Center (AHRC) on 20th May in Hong Kong . He said, "I would like to thank sisters and brothers from Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (the Netherlands ) and Uniting Church of Canada for their solidarity for Myanmar . CCA is also happy to know that many other member churches and councils including Council of Churches in Malaysia, the PROK and Presbyterian Church of Korea, Uniting Church in Australia, and the CWS (New Zealand) are concern about the disasters and are making efforts to provide assistance."

CCA requests its member churches and councils to share information of concerns regarding Myanmar- special worships, prayers, aid campaign, as an expression of ecumenical solidarity. You can send information at ccagensec@cca.org.hk. CCA is also offering a channel to provide relief aid to the cyclone victims through MCC. To be part of these efforts you can send contributions to: 

Account name: Christian Conference of Asia
Bank: Hang Seng Bank
Branch: Hankow Road (4 Hankow Road, Kowloon , Hong Kong)
Account number: 295-4-709594
Swift code: HASEHKHH 

Prawate Khid-arn
CCA General Secretary