Caring for Children

Samaritan’s Purse has provided training and emergency supplies to help care for children in Myanmar

When Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar two months ago, some 2.4 million people were left without basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. The United Nations estimates that 40 percent of these are children. Thousands have been left orphaned, wandering from one relief center to another trying to find their relatives.

Others, like 12-year-old Win, have faced the tragic reality that they have lost even their extended families. “Win is very mature and very brave,” said Lynn, the director of a camp supported by Samaritan’s Purse. “He has resolved to move ahead with his life, and the believers in this camp have agreed to make sure that he and the other orphans get education and the other things they need.”

In Lynn’s camp alone, there are hundreds of children who are alone and in need of care. Samaritan’s Purse has provided training and emergency supplies to help care for these vulnerable boys and girls. “My heart hurts for these little ones,” said Lynn. “I pray that many of them will eventually find their parents, but I fear that will not be the case.” Despite this tragic situation, Lynn said she has hope for the children’s future because of the love of Jesus Christ that has been shown by local Christians working in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. “We have food for them, and we are able to keep them here and protect them from those who want to harm them.”

As they care for their physical needs, Lynn and her volunteer staff also encourage the children through Bible stories and community prayer. “I do not know why this happened, but Lynn and the others have helped me to know that God is still with me,” said Win. “Right after the storm, I was very scared. Now, I am sad not to see my parents, but I am no longer afraid because the people here are caring for me.”

How Samaritan’s Purse is helping:

Our staff has worked hand-in-hand with local believers to provide emergency relief to some 20,000 families.

FOOD:

Through our Christian partners, we have distributed more than 65 tons of food and cooking kits to thousands of families. To help with long-term food needs, we have provided enough seed to cover 1,700 acres of farm land and given nets and boats to 75 fishermen.

WATER:

We have flown a dozen large-scale water filtration systems into Myanmar, each capable of meeting the daily needs of 3,000 people, as well as enough water purification packets to provide over half a million gallons of drinkable water.

EXPOSURE:

We have sent in more than 1,600 rolls of reinforced, weatherproof plastic to build emergency shelters for thousands of families. Our shipments also included more than 22,750 blankets and 21,000 pieces of clothing.

HEATLH:

We have helped supply 120 emergency health kits, 3,724 hygiene kits, and 25,000 mosquito nets for the prevention of disease. Hundreds of Burmese Christians have been trained to spread basic public health messages about hygiene and the risk of disease in the weeks following such a massive disaster.

How you can help:

PRAY:

• Pray for the physical and spiritual needs of the survivors, especially the children who have experienced so much death and destruction.

• Pray for God to use Samaritan’s Purse and other Christians to demonstrate His love through our ministry of compassion.

• Pray for unrestricted access to the Irrawaddy Delta so we can reach more people with life-saving aid.