Adventist Aid Distributed in Flood-Devastated Myanmar

By Myo Chan and Teresa Costello, ANN, with Adventist Review staff

Seventh-day Adventist relief workers are distributing food and other essential items in Myanmar after heavy flooding killed at least 46 people and affected more than 210,000.

The flooding, brought on by six weeks of monsoon rain, also damaged at least 32 Adventist churches, many of which remain underwater.

The government of the south Asian country has appealed for international aid to cope with the disaster.

“With more monsoon rain predicted this month, the Adventist Church in Myanmar is prepared to continue its relief work and bring the comfort of Christ to those in crisis,” local church leaders said in a statement.

Details about the damaged Adventist churches were not immediately available. Church members were focusing on helping those who lost everything in the flooding rather than the houses of worship, church leaders said.

Adventist Community Services volunteers have handed out essential items to about 500 people in four western areas that have been declared disaster zones.

Local church leaders are coordinating with Adventist Community Services to send medical doctors and health workers to offer their assistance, said Tha Tun Aye, treasurer for the Adventist Church’s Central Myanmar Mission.

The volunteers are also organizing a food distribution drive for 2,000 people displaced by flooding in the southeast.

Meanwhile, the Myanmar branch of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency is working with the government teams and nongovernment groups to provide a joint emergency response, including food and water, to unmet needs or gaps in support, said Brendon Irvine, the ADRA Myanmar country director.

“A larger ADRA International network response of up to US$50,000 is also planned once clearer details emerge of ongoing needs,” he said.