Are We There Yet?

Pray for Myanmar. We all are well aware of the staggering death tolls left by the cyclone in that nation, governed by a military junta. What makes this situation even more distressing is the arrogance and callousness of the government as it refuses aid from other nations, especially the U.S. One news network reported that they are refusing aid in an effort to “save face.” Saving face means doubling or tripling the death toll as disease and starvation take their toll. It’s amazing to think that there are individuals whose pride takes such priority over compassion for their own people.

This from World Magazine (AP story):

All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated,” U.N. World Food Program spokesman Risley said.

“For the time being, we have no choice but to end further efforts to bring critical needed food aid into Myanmar at this time,” he said.

At least 62,000 people are dead or missing in Myanmar, entire villages are submerged in the Irrawaddy delta and aid groups warned that the area is on the verge of a medical disaster.

The U.N. has grown increasingly critical of Myanmar’s military rulers’ refusal to let foreign aid workers into the country while the junta appeared overwhelmed and more than 1 million homeless people waited for food, medicine and shelter.

“The frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts,” Risley said. “It’s astonishing.”

Let’s pray for the suffering people of Myanmar and that aid will be provided. Pray that somehow God could use this to advance the gospel in that nation.

This entry (Permalink) was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 9:46 am and is filed under Current Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.