Families in camp receiving food, health care and education

(MissionNewswire) The situation in Min Gun, in the Sagaing region of Myanmar*, remains critical more than a year after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the area. The initial emergency response for Salesian missionaries has continued as they support thousands of people who are still trying to rebuild their lives in great instability in the country.

Currently, between 4,000 and 5,000 people — around 1,600 families — are living in a makeshift camp near a Buddhist monastery. Their homes were destroyed by the earthquake and they have been surviving in small huts without adequate access to basic services. The political climate in the country hinders access to resources and limits the arrival of humanitarian aid.

“Every day is a struggle for survival,” explained a Salesian in Myanmar, who works closely with the community. “Jobs are scarce, and although youth try to go out to work to support their families, the prevailing political instability makes this difficult and dangerous.”

The support of the global Salesian Family, coordinated by the Don Bosco Network and with the participation of Bosco Global, remains crucial. Thanks also to the emergency and fundraising campaign launched by Bosco Global last year, Salesians are providing care for families living in the camps. As time has passed, the flow of aid has diminished and access to the camp is now more difficult, and fewer and fewer organizations are able to intervene due to restrictions and risks in the area.

Salesians are distributing basic foodstuffs such as rice, pulses, oil and noodles. Health care, particularly for children and the elderly, is being provided with support of health care staff within the camp. Salesians are also offering educational spaces for more than 500 children and distributing toys and emotional support to more than 400 children under the age of 7, aiding their recovery from trauma.

A Salesian said, “Despite the difficulties, the Salesian presence continues to closely support the camp’s population, in coordination with local leaders and following the necessary protocols to access the area. At Bosco Global, we continue to support this process alongside the Don Bosco Network, making this support possible thanks to the commitment of so many people who mobilized during the emergency, convinced that in humanitarian emergencies it is essential to sustain life and support those who need it most.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Myanmar – Supporting people in the aftermath of the earthquake

Salesian Missions – Myanmar

*Any goods, services, or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.