In this July 24, 2008 file photo, a Cyclone Nargis victim fixes a tarpaulin that serves as a roof for his house in an area outside of Yangon, Myanmar. According to a recent assessment by the U.N.,..
(AP Photo)
The figure is based on needs assessments undertaken after Myanmar was devastated by Cyclone Nargis in early May. The storm killed more than 150,000 people, displaced millions, and virtually wiped out the country’s staple crops.
Paul Montacute, Director of BWAid, along with Bonny Resu, BWA Regional Secretary for Asia Pacific, traveled to the Southeast Asian country in August to meet with leaders of the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC) and members of Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid)/BWAid Rescue24.
Montacute reported that the group of leaders crafted a Memorandum of Understanding between BWAid, MBC, the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, and HBAid “which we all signed, and committed ourselves to.”
The bodies represented aim to further provide relief, such as food and medical supplies, and to rebuild homes for displaced persons. Montacute stated that “we have a lot of work to do to bring this project into being.” Those present at the meeting decided “to make a fresh appeal to (the Baptist) constituency so that this project will have the funds needed.” The project is expected to last 18 months.
Rescue24, a relief, rescue and response unit within BWAid, is already engaged in relief work in the country in cooperation with the MBC. The budget for this effort is just under US$400,000.
