Burma cyclone

Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Burma (also known as Myanmar) on May 2nd 2008.  The cyclone, which attained peak wind speeds of well over 100mph, caused massive damage to coastal areas of Burma.  At least 23,000 people are known to have died, but the figure is expected to rise significantly, with 80,000 people believed to have died in the town of Labutta alone.  Large-scale flooding has hampered relief efforts and some areas have still received no aid at all.

Much attention has been focused on the ruling military junta, who have refused to open the country to aid workers.  The junta has agreed to accept food, medicines and other essential supplies, but is still refusing to allow aid workers to enter the country, meaning that there is not enough manpower or experience for the aid to reach those in need.  There have been reports of human bodies being left to rot in the streets as there are not enough survivors to bury them.

In addition, the cyclone struck some of the most fertile rice-producing areas of the country, raising fears that limited rice production could lead to a famine later on.  Water supplies have also been seriously disrupted, further exacerbating the public health risk.

Please pray that the stance of the Burmese junta would soften, and that aid workers would be allowed to enter the country to assist those in need.  Pray that food and water would reach those in need and that some good would come out of this terrible disaster.