Burma: day of prayer for displaced Kachins

young refugees

Source: UCAN/TCT/ICN

The diocese of Banmaw in Myanmar (Burma) is dedicating a day of prayer this week to Kachin State people who have been displaced as a result of continuing fighting in the region, said Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam yesterday.

The bishop said that since the fighting began, the church urged all the parishioners to pray. "We are very concerned for the future of the displaced people there so we nominate 9 October as a day of prayer and we will give our special attention to them."

According to rights groups, more than 20,000 civilians have been displaced as a result of a renewed offensive by the Myanmar government in Kachin State.

Bishop Raymond said this was a way to show "solidarity" with those who have been forced to move out of their homes in the conflict, in which the army is allegd to be repeatedly attacking Kachin villages. The bishop told all the parishes to conduct the prayer day and collect contributions from parishioners for those affected. As well as praying, the Church is helping with tents and other items.

Fr Paul Lahpai Aung Dang, director of Karuna Banmaw Social Service (KBSS), said that the Church had set up camps for the displaced people, given them shelter and supported them with food and non-food items, water and light.

Priests, religious nuns and volunteers from Banmaw diocese are also helping with children's education and health care.

Fr Aung Dang said: "The Church has tried to help more than one thousand schoolchildren in boarding schools and convents and is hiring teachers so that the children can continue their studies."

Meanwhile across the border in Thailand, the town of Mae Sot is home to thousands of Burmese refugees, about one third of them children. Some have had parents shot or killed by landmines. Others have been sent by families in the hope that they will be safe and receive an education. While the children are safe in boarding houses or with their families, they have very little to eat. Over half are severely malnourished. One in ten suffer from acute, or wasting malnutrition.

The largest charity in the area working to feed the refugee children is the Thai Childrens Trust.