BURMA - Disaster Relief And Aid For People In Need

BURMA - Disaster Relief And Aid For People In Need

May 9, 2008, John Baptist Mission,Togo, Africa, News Center, Issued as provided through international mission reports:

Gospel for Asia Reaching Cyclone Victims

KERALA, India, May 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel for Asia has more than 500 native missionaries on the ground in cyclone- struck Burma (Myanmar), and many are already reaching out to the victims of the storm.

"The suffering of the people is unimaginable," said GFA President K.P. Yohannan, speaking from India where he is monitoring the situation. "Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, are homeless. Food is in short supply, and prices are skyrocketing. Electricity may be out for months. People have lost literally everything."

In response, he said that the missionaries, as well as other volunteers, are forming GFA Compassion Services teams to help bring relief to thousands left homeless by the 120-mph winds. And GFA has activated a cyclone relief fund, with 100 percent of donations to the fund going straight to the field to assist survivors.

"We are also trying to get some of our workers into Burma from neighboring countries," he explained, "but right now transportation and communication are closed off."

"As in the past," he noted, "our workers and church members are helping every way they can to alleviate the suffering and bring the hope of Jesus Christ into the situation."

Only about 4 percent of Burma's population is Christian. GFA has about 400 churches in the majority Buddhist nation. Surprisingly, they are well thought of by the people because of their willingness to help in situations like the cyclone.

In 2006, the military-run government of Burma forbade foreign non-government organizations from doing aid work in the country. In the face of this disaster, the government is allowing outside assistance.

So far, the death toll is approaching 50,000, and there are thousands still unaccounted for. Observers are reporting mile after mile of devastation in which all houses and other buildings have simply disappeared.

"The people in Burma live in clusters of small communities in simple bamboo structures," Yohannan explained. "Literally hundreds of these simple structures were just blown away. We are praying here in India and are asking Christians around the world to join us."

Since GFA missionaries are already in the country, and have found favor with the government, they are one of the few groups able to offer immediate help to the people.

"Rangoon is in total darkness, and officials are estimating that there will not be electricity for at least three months," Yohannan said.

Obtaining enough food to feed all those at the Bible college presents another challenge. At present, the banks are closed and fresh food and water are in short supply. Yet these are simply the immediate problems before the aid workers.

"We are facing at least six months of continuous work ministering to the people. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to reach out in love to them, just like we did after the tsunami in 2004," Yohannan said.

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

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John Baptist Mission,Togo, Africa, News Center, Issued as provided through international mission reports