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| Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
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Ethnic Karen flee Myanmar
By Nireesh @ 11:02 AM :: 78 Views ::
0 Comments :: 
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Thousands of ethnic Karen villagers have fled Myanmar's army attacks.
The Barnabus Fund reports that since June 6, the Myanmar military has attacked the mountain villages in search of Karen rebels, killing residents as they flee, or giving them extremely hard labor and sometimes even using them as human land mine sweepers.
Wes Flint with Vision Beyond Borders says, "Many of these fled to refugee camps on the Thailand border or on the Burma border." But once there, they discovered the rebels weren't the only targets. Many of the Karen are Christians. Many have already faced extensive ethnic and religious discrimination from the military regime.
According to a recent report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide--a human rights organization, there's plenty of fresh evidence of human rights violations against them in Burma. Aside from the war atrocities, it's not uncommon for soldiers to rape women in the camps. For the Karen trapped in the camps, there is no justice. There's also no safety.
Flint says one of their contacts has been sneaking into the refugee camps to bring aid to the Karen there. "The military fired mortars into the refugee camp; they've also been poisoning the water with weed killer. What's going on there is an absolute horror. The Thai soldiers see, but they just allow it to continue."
Barnabus Fund also reports several Christian orphanages which were set up to provide a safe haven for the Cyclone Nargis survivors are being targeted and raided for supplies. There are few resources to be had. Aid that came in following Nargis was slow in arriving and sometimes was stolen.
VBB teams has been providing humanitarian aid in the camps, as well as Bibles. Flint notes that "many Buddhists that are in this part of the country have come to Christ, not by aggressive evangelism but simply by the compassion shown by a few believers that care."
There are other ways VBB is helping in Myanmar:
Burmese Bibles: 10,000 Burmese Bibles, at $3.50 each, are needed for Post Cyclone Nargis outreach.
Karen Bibles: 3000 needed at $3.00 each.
Burma Orphanages: An orphanage is under construction to house 500-1000 children. Currently $84,000 is needed to finish the home.
Burma Orphanage Program (on-going): There are 60,000-80,000 children orphaned from last year's Cyclone Nargis. For $50,000, land can be purchased and a home built to house 100 children.
Burmese Pastor's Home for Orphans: VBB has committed to help a pastor in the Delta area that was so devastated by Cyclone Nargis. He has taken 28 children into his home and needs $200 per month to care for them (he has no other support).
Northern Burmese orphanage: An orphanage in northern Burma has 135 children and no other support. VBB has committed to help them at $350 per month.
Burmese Methodist orphanage: $200 additional per month needed. VBB has committed to assist them with that support.
If you can help, click here.
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