MTW Minuteman Appeal For Myanmar

Dear Minuteman,

Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting an estimate of one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll—now reported at 25,000—will rise, but estimates are still being revised upwards. The military government has not responded quickly, and relief agencies have been initially frustrated by delays in receiving emergency visas. Assistance has only begun to trickle in. Many areas are almost inaccessible, and early reports from survivors describe terror and devastating loss of loved ones. The urgency of the crisis increases almost hourly.

The area hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis is Myanmar’s fertile Irrawaddy delta region known as the Rice Bowl. Rice plants die quickly when completely submerged in water, and much of the area is still underwater. Of course, this means that the rice crop, upon which the country depends, is almost certain to be entirely lost. So, even those areas of Myanmar that did not take a direct hit from the storm will be deeply affected, possibly catastrophically. And as is always the case, children and the elderly will suffer the most from lack of shelter, water, and food. If circumstances continue unchecked, disease will almost surely follow.

Our assessment team will leave as soon as visas are issued, and after that we hope to move quickly with disaster response teams and perhaps longer-term assistance. The crisis will not pass quickly. Although our national partner, Dr. Tial Tanga, is believed to be in an area not directly hit by the cyclone, phone and email communications are down, presumably throughout the country, so we have been unable to reach him. We expect Dr. Tanga, a graduate of Reformed Seminary, to be directly involved in MTW’s efforts.

To make a donation by check, please make your check payable to Mission to the World and write” 93985-MMMM08WEB” on the memo line. To give online, click here. And would you pray as well as give? We expect to face many challenges.

Sincerely in Christ,

Paul D. Kooistra, Coordinator

PS: Any funds not used in the current appeal will be used for similar appeals.

PPS: If you would like to receive Minuteman appeals by email, please send a message to minuteman@mtw.org with the subject line “Add to Email List.”

Donations Address:

Mission to the World

P.O. Box 116284

Atlanta, GA 30368-6284