The humanitarian crisis caused by the earthquake in Myanmar that claimed at least 2,700 lives —and probably thousands more — is being compounded by military airstrikes on vulnerable, hard-hit communities populated by predominantly Christian Karen and Kachin ethnic groups.
The ruling military junta is “taking advantage” of the chaos and suffering caused by the natural disaster to continue its persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, said Tera Kouba, minister of international/Asian ministries at First Baptist Church in San Antonio.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide and other sources reported the military has increased airstrikes in civilian areas, including Kachin and Karen communities near the epicenter of the earthquake.
‘Not acceptable’
Kouba confirmed that information based on firsthand reports from trusted sources “on the ground” in Myanmar, also known as Burma. She grew up in Burma, where her father served five decades as a Karen pastor and Baptist denominational leader.
“The day the earthquake happened, they dropped bombs,” Kouba said. “Then on Sunday (March 30), it happened again.”
Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar for the United Nations, told the BBC it was “nothing short of incredible” that the Burmese military continued to “drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people” after an earthquake.
“Anyone who has influence on the military needs to step up the pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable,” Andrews told the BBC. “I’m calling on the junta to just stop — stop any of its military operations.”
CSW Founder Mervyn Thomas echoed that call.
“The international community must demand that Myanmar’s military State Administrative Council cease its airstrikes against civilians immediately,” Thomas said.
“It is vital to support relief and recovery efforts in Myanmar and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches all affected communities equitably.
“No effort must be spared to ensure that the rights and dignity of every community, regardless of faith, are upheld during this critical time, and the international community must also press the military regime to ensure that the systemic inequities that leave minority communities especially vulnerable are addressed.”
Attacks make intolerable situation worse
The attacks by the military made worse what already is an intolerable situation in much of Myanmar after the earthquake, Kouba noted.
Among others, she spoke with the director of the YMCA in Mandalay, where she worked 10 years, and with her sister, a minister who teaches at a Bible school in Mandalay.
While her sister reported being hit by some falling debris after a water tank on her roof broke, her house was declared structurally sound, and she was able to continue living there.
“Next door, her neighbor’s house is not in good condition at all,” she said.
Neither is the facility of the Mandalay Karen Baptist Church, where her father was longtime pastor. The two-story building “collapsed,” she said.
Other houses of worship also were destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquake. CSW reported St. Michael’s Catholic Parish in Mandalay and St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Taunggyi sustained significant damage.
The military’s State Administrative Council stated more than 600 Buddhist monasteries and close to 300 pagodas were affected by the earthquake.
However, CSW noted, the government failed to report 50 mosques also were damaged, including some that collapsed during Friday prayers, killing many worshippers. In Sagaing, more than 200 Muslims reportedly were killed when three of the city’s five mosques were destroyed.
“The Christian community is helping and supporting [individuals and families affected by the earthquake] as much as they can,” Kouba said.
The people in the region desperately need food, water, shelter and mosquito nets, she said. And in the weeks and months ahead, they will need trauma counseling.
“I want to go back to help,” she said.
Merritt Johnston, director of communications and media for the Baptist World Alliance, wrote in an April 1 email: “BWAid Director Marsha Scipio facilitated a global response call this morning with more than 50 leaders across Baptist aid organizations within the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development, Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Asia Baptist Women’s Union and Myanmar convention leadership.”
BWA already had included Myanmar as one of the focus areas in its Stand in the Gap initiative, a call for Baptists globally to give and pray for suffering people at a time when humanitarian aid is being cut.
Johnston said BWA plans to compile information from the global response call and provide an “update to the global family, hopefully within the next 48 hours.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ken Camp and originally published by Baptist Standard.
