Htet Htet was at work when the first warnings about Cyclone Nargis started to come through.
Like anyone who has borrowed money to have a roof over their heads, she was worried about what damage the storm might bring as it moved up from the Bay of Bengal.
As the rain lashed down and knowing her house was close to the Yangon River, the office cleaner for Tearfund Christian partner World Concern Myanmar decided to head for home to her husband and two children.
As the night went on, the winds and rain picked up strength until, in the early hours of Saturday 3 May, her house had its roof blown off.
Htet Htet and her family were quickly soaked as blankets and makeshift plastic rain covers did little to protect them.
Shivering
With the children shivering, Htet Htet and her husband took them through the storm to a neighbour’s house. Shortly after they arrived, Htet Htet’s home collapsed.
While exact statistics are impossible to ascertain, it is very apparent that vast numbers of families like Htet Htet’s are enduring appalling suffering as a result of Cyclone Nargis.
The UN reckons up to 100,000 people could have died and 2.5 million have been affected.
Tearfund is targeting aid at 23,000 survivors in the worst hit areas through our church partners in Myanmar.
Medical supplies, sheeting for shelter, clothing, food and water are being provided by World Concern Myanmar and the Myanmar Baptist Convention, which has links to 4,000 churches.
Local knowledge
While international frustration about the speed of the relief operation grows, Tearfund’s partners are able to use their local knowledge and contacts to good effect.
This is because they are long-standing partners with a track record of working successfully in Myanmar.
However the conditions they are facing should not be underestimated.
Infrastructure and communications remain chaotic, dead bodies and animal carcasses are spreading disease and there are fears that the weather will worsen over the next few weeks.
Sudarshan Sathianathan, Tearfund’s Head of Asia Region, said, `In spite of a variety of difficulties, our partner organisations have been extremely resourceful and determined in mounting a relief response.
`We need to stand with them in prayer and offer sustained support during this crisis.'
- Please continue to pray for the survivors of the cyclone and that aid supplies will get through to them in larger quantities.
- Pray that the military government of Myanmar will respond effectively to the crisis and show greater willingness to allow international help into the country.
- Pray that the British government and the UN continue to put pressure on the Myanmar regime.
- Pray for our partners, and the local churches they work with, as they deal with the emotional trauma involved in their relief work.