Myanmar: the world reaches out

BY ROSALIE E. DUNBAR, NEWS EDITOR

When a powerful cyclone hit low-lying parts of Myanmar (also known as Burma) early last month, early estimates suggested that tens of thousands of people were killed or injured. At least a million were lefts homeless. But the environmental effects of the storm, with its 12-foot tidal wave, were also devastating. The cyclone—the term used for hurricanes in this part of the world—struck the Irrawaddy River Delta, where about half of Myanmar's 53 million people live. Known as Myanmar's rice bowl, its fertile fields may take years to recover form the inundation of salt water brought by the storm surge.

Myanmar has been known as an isolationist nation because its ruling military junta has maintained tight control and hasn't in the past welcomed outside assistance. This time it seemed at first as if there would be more openness to outside help. But at this writing, most agencies have been unable to come to the rescue. This delay in assistance has left many concerned about the well-being of those citizens living in the most affected regions.

By the time you read this, the rescue and recovery effort should hopefully be well underway, but there will still be many areas where prayer is needed.

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