Could I ask for your urgent prayers and action for Burma today?
Yesterday, I met with Burmese friends here in Bangkok to get the latest news on the Cyclone Nargis disaster and to ask how UNOH could best help with the relief effort. Dr San Aung, Maung Maung and Zin Linn are part of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). Led by elected Burmese MPs from the National League for Democracy (NLD), this is the peak body of Burmese leaders working for democracy.
As I heard their tragic news and saw the latest photos I felt a wave of nausea hit me. The death toll is now over 100,000 people, but over 2 million survivors are still homeless, living in makeshift camps and monasteries. Many survivors have not eaten food or drunk water for a week. Children are being found alive among their parents' dead bodies. Water-born diseases are now starting to gain momentum, taking their deathly toll. Yet, the junta are still saying 'Only the Burmese can help; we don't need foreigners'. They even went ahead with a constitutional referendum to enshrine military power on Saturday.
But, what can we do? After listening to these Burmese leaders, I believe we can best support the relief effort by supporting NCGUB.
UNOH is setting up a UNOH Burma Cyclone Appeal so that Australians can donate on-line to help the relief effort through NCGUB/NLD Burmese workers on the ground. This has been approved by COCOA for tax-deductibility and online donations can be made by clicking here. If you would like a hard copy of this letter and a donation form to print and return by mail, please click here.
The UNOH Board has already given $10,000 from UNOH general funds to NCGUB/NLD workers inside Burma for travel to disaster areas and for the buying and distributing of basic food and medicines. These workers can get food and medicines to people within 2 days. NCGUB/NLD will give UNOH receipts, photos and reports of where, to whom and when the relief action took place.
UNOH will also be working with Dr San Aung and other NCGUB/NLD workers to connect with both those inside Burma and those on the Thai-Burma border. These include the newly-formed Relief Committee led by Dr Cynthia, based in Mae Sot. This group will make further recommendations regarding the best utilisation of UNOH Burma Cyclone Appeal donations.
Please consider doing all you can to help our Burmese neighbours in their time of disaster and grief. We can save lives.
God bless,
Ash Barker
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