Cyclone Nargis - World Vision Can Help
The situation in Burma is now beyond the point of absurdity. The military junta is pretty much doing all it can to NOT help its own people. And as a new storm brews off the coast of the Irrawaddy Delta, up to 127,990 people are feared dead. Meanwhile more than 2 million survivors are in need of emergency aid, and the military is barring foreign aid workers from assisting, insisting they have the issue under control. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Burmese officials told him they “have their own team to cope with the situation.” Really? Then why are there hundreds of thousands of people without water and shelter? Why is spoiled rice being distributed when nutritional biscuits have been delivered by foreign aid?
As my friend Holly and I were in L.A. this weekend and getting more and more reports, we couldn’t help but be extremely angry at the junta, wanting the United States to use all it’s power and might to help the situation. And my thoughts echo citizens in Burma. I finally heard from one of my Burmese friends who said she was “so upset with news that our government have rejected to U.S. & U.N. help.”
But, I have to be comforted by the fact that God is sovereign and in control. He is a God of compassion, who loves the Burmese. I’m praying that this terrible government regime would be exposed for who they truly are and the oppression of the Burmese would come to an end. And if their earthly needs can’t be met, I pray they come to know Jesus as their savior who can meet all their spiritual needs.
Again, I urge you all to support the cause by donating to World Vision. I have donated and today I signed up to sponsor a child in Burma, which will provide a child with things like food, water, and health care. World Vision will also be able to build up communities with projects like clean water wells, new schools and clinics.
World Vision has worked in Burma for more than 40 years and currently assists children and families across the country through food assistance, agriculture, health, clean water, education, income generation, anti-trafficking and nutritional assistance programs.
World Vision is on the ground in Burma, assisting with the relief efforts. I got this from their website:
Hundreds of thousands of homeless forced to migrate north for aid. With nearly 600 staff members on the ground, World Vision has assisted 78,000 people so far with water, rice, and survival items.
Bags of rice, provided by World Vision, are delivered to a temporary shelter for storm-affected communities in Myanmar.
Photo ©2008 World Vision staff
Tags: Burma, Cyclone Nargis, cyclone relief efforts, Myanmar, World Vision
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May 16, 2008 at 6:10 am
Thanks for the post, Jenny. I did not know World Vision was there already - but will do something. They are a class act.