Baptists waiting to enter Myanmar

This news release comes from the Baptist World Alliance. Seventh Day Baptists are members of the BWA.

Washington, D.C. (BWA) -- Baptists from Australia, Hungary and the United States are currently in Bangkok, Thailand, awaiting visa application approval to enter Myanmar.

The teams are hoping to enter the Southeast Asian country to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Nargis, a category three hurricane, on Saturday, May 3.

Reports out of Bangkok indicate that the Myanmar military government, regarded as one of the most repressive in the world, has been slow in waiving visa requirements for teams trying to bring in foreign aid.

There are efforts to make telephone and Internet contact with the Myanmar Baptist Convention (MBC), through which relief aid to the country is expected to be channeled. But in Yangon--also known as Rangoon, the largest city in Myanmar--“All the telephone and electric poles have been destroyed,” said Kabi Gangmei of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), who is among those awaiting a visa to enter Myanmar.

The teams from Hungary and Australia (part of BWAid Rescue24 which does search, rescue and relief work), have bought US$30,000 worth of basic food items, medication and blankets in Bangkok to take to Myanmar. The funds were donated by Hungarian Baptist Aid, which works closely with Baptist World Aid (BWAid).

Trained search-and-rescue personnel from the country of Singapore and from North Carolina in the United States are expected to join the BWAid Rescue24 team currently in Bangkok. Myanmar and Thailand share a common border.

Baptists from around the world continue to pledge support for relief aid to Myanmar. In addition to US$50,000 pledged by BWAid, the German Baptist union has made a provision of up to 40,000 Euros for Myanmar relief.