‘The population was already suffering from the political crisis. Now they face even more pain because of this natural catastrophe,’ says Don Bosco Nyi Nyi, Superior of the Salesian Vice-Province of Myanmar. 'The earthquake destroyed houses, schools, churches and health centres. Many displaced families had fled the armed clashes and were living in makeshift shelters, which also collapsed. Today they continue to sleep on the ground, under plastic tarpaulins, in unhealthy conditions, while the rains make the situation worse,' the Salesian continues.
The Salesian missionaries, meanwhile, thank the Salesian Family for the support offered to the people of Myanmar in recent months and stress that "what the population needs now is long-term help. They need housing, clean water and sanitation. Children need to go back to school and teachers need support to resume teaching. Those who have lost their farms or small businesses need help to start again. Hospitals and clinics were already scarce in the worst affected areas and are now overcrowded or dilapidated. People with chronic injuries or illnesses suffer in silence. Many families have experienced war, displacement and now an earthquake. Their pain is deep.
In a place called Min Gun, a town about an hour's drive from Sagaing, the epicentre of the earthquake, there are about 1,200 families living in a huge camp. Each family is forced to live in a four square metre hut. They came to this camp from seven villages because of the earthquake and political instability.
For this reason, Salesian missionaries have initiated a structured aid plan focusing on five key areas: education, nutrition, childcare, health and food assistance.
Fr Don Bosco Nyi Nyi adds that despite the many difficulties faced, the local community shows admirable courage. Volunteers, religious groups and aid workers do their utmost to assist everyone, even if the needs exceed the available resources.
In the face of all this, therefore, Misiones Salesianas, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, has launched a new appeal emphasising that ‘the people of Myanmar continue to suffer and are only asking for the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity.’
