Magazine

Burma refugee update

Many friends have responded to the needs of the suffering Burmese refugees for which they, and we, are truly grateful. We know that the children have already moved to the new location away from the most dangerous and malaria-ridden camp where they were being held. The process of clearing land has started and the building of bamboo dormitories and kitchens should begin soon. Solar panels and clean water systems will be brought in.

Our partners were involved in serious negotiations with the Thai military before permission was finally given for the children to move. But we need to keep this situation before the Lord. Despite an agreement in June when they were told the kids would never be sent back to Burma, the military are now asking us to sign papers – an elaborate plan that includes sending the kids back across the river to a plot of land near their old camp inside Burma. This has been the subject of raids and mortar attacks by the Burmese army and is extremely unsafe for the children.

Please pray that this new camp will remain malaria free. Some of the children are still suffering. Naw Ke Poh is 12 years old and in the hospital right now, weakened and very sick from malaria. She is the daughter of the lady without legs beside the pig in the picture above. Naw Ke Poh’s mother lost both legs when she stepped on a landmine near our old camp inside Burma. 

We plan to have a full report on our trip to the camps in the Spring 2010 issue of our magazine. In the meantime please continue to pray for the children and our workers there.

©AsiaLink 2009
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