Commentary: Crisis in Burma

Crisis in Burma

Last week our news blast included a member’s rave about a special riverboat in Myanmar, the country which has just been devastated by Cyclone Nargis. Tens of thousands of people are reported dead and yesterday the U.S. State Department advised all U.S. citizens to leave Myanmar, as it anticipates a severe humanitarian crisis. We have received updates from some on the ground, including Jack Healey, former director of Amnesty International, as well as advice on how to help those in Myanmar.

“All of our staff, house, office and people around us are fine,” the owner of the Amara boat wrote us yesterday. “It seems, there will be a big problem for all of the delta region and Yangon. A lot was destroyed and the government is till now unable to support. My wife will fly with some money as soon as possible to Yangon to help. At least, we can support the region where we live a bit. Most of the roofs are gone and people need some shelter. There is still a lot of rain. If there are any new information, I will let you know.”

We hear from our sources that so far, the ruling military junta, as expected, has been slow to react and is doing little to see the country through this crisis. “As headlines have told us, Cyclone Nargis has hit Burma hard. 22,000 to 60,000 have passed and tens of thousands are missing….the Junta is doing nothing to help the people,” writes Healey, aka Mr Human Rights, to friends and supporters. “Fortunately, timing proves to be on our side, as we are in the midst of a month-long campaign to help the people of Burma. HRAC, US Campaign for Burma and Fanista.com have organized a 30-day video campaign to educate Americans and others around the world about the military regime in Burma. Our goal is to mobilize 1 million people to sign up to take action. Just as the world came together to help free Nelson Mandela and South Africa in the 1980s, we are now organizing an effort to help Burma’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma.”

View the spots at www.burmaitcantwait.org. Yesterdays’s spot with Eddie Izzard was directed by Anjelica Huston.

The best way to donate is through the site above or CARE (www.care.org), as their funds will NOT go through the Myanmar military.

Another concerned member has been trying to reach Burmese human rights activist who has been working along the border and will send news from him when they connect. So share the videos with others and check back for updates.

Read more on how to get aid to those in need in Burma.