Myanmar (MNN) — The death toll from Myanmar’s Friday earthquake has surpassed 2,700. That number is expected to rise as lifesaving rescue work turns to recovery work.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) says more than 10,000 buildings in Myanmar collapsed or were seriously damaged in the magnitude 7.7 earthquake and aftershocks. On top of rescue work, food, clean water, sanitation, and more are rising needs for survivors. Thousands in the city of Mandalay and other hard-hit regions are living on the streets, whether because they lost their homes or because they’re afraid more tremors will strike.
The earthquake is one more layer to Myanmar’s complicated situation. After four years of horrific civil war, Myanmar is already deep in instability, explains Brian Dennett with AMG International.
“[In a place] where you’ve got people already struggling just to survive, any disruption like this, having a massive earthquake in the midst of it all, is just devastating,” he says.
But even in this disaster, God has prepared people to respond.
“We’ve been offering relief throughout the civil war. We have a trusted network of churches across Myanmar — ministry workers, as well as our team just over the border in Thailand, where we also operate a refugee camp,” Dennett says.
Myanmar aid from recent years.
(Photo courtesy of AMG International)
Over the weekend, AMG sent generators and food support, including nutritional drinks for the elderly.
“We are actively working right now with our team on the ground, assessing the situation, finding out where the most damage was, and we are going to be providing immediate relief. We really are well-positioned to make a difference there,” Dennett explains.
Please help Myanmar
Because of the network AMG already has, this is an avenue you can use to send help to people in Myanmar as the hands and feet of Christ.
“As always, everything we do at AMG is an opportunity for us to share the gospel and to share hope,” Dennett says. “Pray for AMG, pray for our workers. Pray that we are able to get the [aid] to where it’s most needed, and that we can share Jesus in the process.”
Would you prayerfully consider joining AMG to help brothers and sisters in Christ and others in great need?
“This is going to require a tremendous amount of resources. Anyone who feels compelled to give towards this can visit amghelp.org and click on Myanmar. That money will go directly to our disaster relief efforts in Myanmar,” Dennett says.
Header image of Myanmar courtesy of David Mark via Pixabay.
