Myanmar | Arthritis Information
I don't know if you have heard they have put the death toll up to 22,000 people in Myanmar!!! With thousands still missing! That would be about half of the town I live in gone!!!!
It was an extremely impoverished country to begin with, the militaristic regime that controls the country ignores the needs of the Burmese people. The government has in the past made it difficult for humanitarian aid to enter the country, let's hope they've changed that policy, though it may be too late for many.
I have not heard of this catastrophy... I do not watch the news.
But Iam sad to hear of this.
Joonie,
Many are unaware of this country in S.E. Asia, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Its been under an oppressive military dictatorship since 1962. Kyi, a prodemocracy leader (a brave woman) and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been under house arrest in that country for 12 years. The US has imposed economic sanctions cuz of gross human rights violations.
The military government has been criticized for not warning its people of the cyclone that weather experts had forecast. The government is further being criticized for its slowness in allowing humanitarian workers into the country, they would prefer money be given directly to them, but aid agencies are rightly distrustful.
I don't watch tv news but read the news on the internet, here's a link to a news article on this natural disaster, made worse by this repressive military junta:
They annouced on the news tonight that Myanmar is accepting aid from other countries including the US. The United Nation is getting their people ready to go over right away and Thailand has already started sending food and water.The cyclone hit 3 days ago, and the military government of Myanmar is just now allowing aid workers to come into their country . . . .
This disaster is not only devastating to the people of Myanmar, but to other 3rd world countries, like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, that rely on Myanmar's rice exports. Myanmar will now be a rice importing country, a time when there is world rice shortages.
George W Bush had 3 ships off the coast so help could be renedered the dsay after, but the Gov there would not issue visa's till today. Hopefully they will let the help in.
The United Nations World Food Program is providing assistance. If interested, see their website:
I heard it was 100,000 this afternoon. Did anyone else hear the same thing? They will not get the help they need now.
The government is corrupt. All we can do is pray for these people.
We can pray, send donations to emergency assistance organizations, and also contribute by playing the internet game "Free Rice." An excerpt from the United Nations World Food Program's website:
"John Breen, an American computer programmer from Bloomington, Indiana, created FreeRice as an incentive for his two sons, aged 13 and 15 years, to learn vocabulary at high school.
However, Breen's long-term interest in reducing global poverty and hunger meant the site was destined for a far bigger audience. On the day of its October 7 launch, FreeRice raised 850 grains -- equivalent to 10 players. Three days later, 1,000 people were playing the game; within a month, that figure had risen to hundreds of millions.
“Given the chance, everyone I know from all walks of life, old and young, would like to see world hunger ended. I think FreeRice's success proves it,” says Breen.
The click to donate concept is as simple as it is ingenious: big-name sponsors pay for web banners that appear at random on FreeRice vocab tests. Their ad dollars are then donated to WFP. In less than three months, Breen has already sent cheques worth US3,000 to WFP’s headquarters in Rome, Italy."
Check it out, it helps alleviate hunger, plus you improve your vocabulary.
http://www.freerice.com/
http://www.wfp.org/english/
For those that don't watch the news, a NYT update on Myanmar:
In listening to the news this morning the real hold-up is the slow processing of visas on the part of Mayanmar government. Also, heard the govt. still isn't allowing the three U.S. Naval ships which were on manuvuers in the area and who have the resources on board to assist the people of Mayanmar still aren't being allowed to do so. Unreal!
Believers of all faiths need to cry out to the Lord in prayer for the people of Mayanmar.
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