Photo by Reuters/U.S. Marine Corps/Sgt Andres Alcaraz/Handout
Myanmar (MNN) ― The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee has found a way to get around politics and get aid into Myanmar days before other Non-Government Organizations were able to do so.
The ministry was able to purchase emergency supplies and food locally through its partner for distribution beginning Friday in the delta region of Burma/Myanmar. They're providing 10,000 families with emergency food, shelter, medical care, and water purification kits through July 31, 2008.
This is good news, considering it's been nine days since Cyclone Nargis struck the country. Over a million survivors remain homeless, and tens of thousands are still unaccounted for.
Critical aid in the first few days following a disaster like this could mean the difference between life and death. However, the brutal junta regime has been creating obstacle after obstacle and refusing help.
The first U.S. military aid flight finally landed in Myanmar on Monday, but relief supplies continued to dribble into the country. The government finally agreed to accept the supplies, but turned the distribution teams away.
On a different front, there is considerable pressure on global food programs that have been severely underfunded due to the rising price of commodities. CRWRC is requesting financial donations to fund the food component in its coordinated response.
Although sharing the hope of Christ is part of what the CRWRC does, it is not their primary objective right now. Staving off a death toll from starvation and water borne disease is the immediate focus. Pray for the testimony and wisdom of the team that is handling the distribution.
