INCOR -- International Christian Outreach and Relief Group

INCOR continues to work at delivery of help to victims of the recent cyclone in Myanmar, working through Christian organizations and churches. The following report details some of the deliveries already made, and further assistance in the form of food, clothing, shelters, medications and water purification materials that are en route today. For reasons that defy logic, the dictators have not prevented local churches from relief activities while they continue to obstruct foreign relief agencies. The most likely explanation is probably their desire to keep the outside world from learning any more than necessary about the unthinkable atrocities and brutal oppression going on in that country, which they have attempted to hide by restricting free access for jounalists and news reporters for many years.

An INCOR Board member in Asia

Sept 21, 2008
Radio New Zealand documentary on Myanmar

June 6, 2008
Myanmar's ruling generals on Friday accused foreign media of tarnishing the country's image by reporting that cyclone victims have not received any assistance. The U.S. military, meanwhile, said it has received no response to an offer of 22 helicopters that could ferry relief to most survivors within three days. Full Story (seattletimes.com)

June 5, 2008
UN may get choppers to Burma, US Navy pulls out (bangkokpost.com)

Report Contents - June 3, 2008
Nargis cyclone report from Burmese rescue worker.
My team and I bought locally available potatoes, cooking oil, rice, and vegetables and hired a small boat to transport us down the Pathein river to the town of Thetkethaung, on the tip of the delta. When we arrived in Thetkethuang, we met more than 2,700 villagers who were crouching in makeshift shelters made of rubble while rain poured on them. It was a terrible scene to see. We fed them, organized them, paused to pray to God for help, and began preparing them for the upriver journey to safe ground. I hired larger boats and filled them to capacity with survivors. In just one day I moved more than 2,700 people up river to a small village in Myuangmya township. From Myungmya we hired 6-wheel trucks to take the displaced people to Pathein Township in loads of 200 people at a time. We had already agreed with a church to set up a temporary camp for cyclone victims on the church compound where the survivors are sheltered today. With money we were provided, we rescued these suffering people, brought them to safety, and left enough food to last them another month. Many of the survivors were unaccompanied children and orphans whose parents died in the cyclone or tidal waves that followed. These children were all placed in childcare homes that are administrated by one of our close partners. More than 2.5 million people are still in desperate need of help after Cyclone Nargis hit Burma a month ago. Your help reaches the neediest victims of this terrible disaster.
[This man, who cannot be identified for his own safety, is only one of the many local volunteers who are willing to risk their own lives to help bring life to thousands.]

Report Contents - May 20, 2008
We have been able to provide several shipments now, with nearly 50,000 doses of critical medications for malaria, cholera, dysentery, amebiasis, infections, etc., along with tons of rice, noodles, mosquito nets, flashlights, tarpaulins for shelter, and water purification for about 50,000 liters of water.

Report Contents - May 13, 2008
UPDATE ON MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS The latest death toll estimate from cyclone Nargis has exceeded 120,000. (See the latest statistics as of May 19, 2008) Twenty pastors that we knew died in the storm, but only two bodies have been recovered so far. Our Ethnos Asia staff interviewed two Burmese workers last night. Here is a brief account of what they shared: The number of homeless in our estimate can reach 5 million, not 1 million as the news says. Many people are staying in the churches, temples, monasteries and schools. They are all crowded. Those in charge cannot feed them all. Even the monks have to find food [The peoples] concern now is to move to a safer place which is away from the foul-smelling dead bodies and get some food. There is no food and drinking water. The district officers do not come to clean the area of the dead bodies. Our first shipment of noodles (18,000 packs) and rice (9.6 tons) arrived safely and has been distributed to five distribution points and feeding centers. Over this week, our team will be reconnoitering logistical arrangements in the affected zones. At this point, our main priority is to bring in: Medicines and supplies for treating water and provide training for medical treatment and water purification. -- Provision of temporary shelters, clothes, mosquito nets, lights, and cooking utensils. We will continue to provide food supplies to affected families. Please direct all contributions to:

Ethnos Asia Ministries - Burma Relief
c/o INCOR
PO Box 531, Kent, WA 98035-0531

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Divine protection over our team in their travels, logistical arrangements and distribution of supplies- that the God who made a way for His Word to go across borders, will also make a way for these basic supplies to reach those who need them most.

Those who have lost loved ones- that God will comfort and strengthen them during this time of grieve

Local churches in Myanmar- that God will supply all their needs and use them as a voice of hope in the midst of hopelessness. Pray especially for the twenty churches that have just lost their pastors, that the ministry will carry on and God will raise up leaders who can take over their place.

Courage and peace- that God give courage and peace to the people so that they will show kindness to those around them during this difficult time.

Provision and divine intervention- that God will make a way for supplies to get through to the people who are in dire need of clean water, food and shelter. Pray that they will know that their help comes from Jesus, the Maker of heaven and earth.

NASA satellite images show Myanmar's coastline before the cyclone, left, and after.

Latest News from Burma (Myanmar)