Myanmar: "Impending regional famine with the flowering of bamboo"


Dear Prayer Warrior and M300 Ministries USA,

Please pray for us as what is happening in Chin State,Burma (Myanmar) is getting
worse every day.If you have a friend please forward this prayer
request.We believe in everything whether it is worse or bad God has
always a greater plan for us.Please pray that God's presence and
encouragement word in the midst of famine.

 
A report from our mission Pastor

Famine in Chin State

People in Chin state are living in perpetual fear of an impending
famine with the flowering of bamboo. The military regime has taken no
steps either to create awareness or prevent famine. Flowering of
bamboo leads to rats multiplying rapidly and the rodents eat crops in
rural areas like Tonzang, Tedim, Falam, Thantlang, Matupi and Paletwa
township in Chin state causing famine. Rats are now everywhere in the
region and have started eating paddy plants and other crops in farms.
Even paddy kept in storehouses is not safe. But the military
authorities have done nothing to kill the rats and prevent a famine.
"The rats not only eat rice but also bite children at night and the
numbers are going up by the day," said our mission Pastor. "The more
they (rats) eat bamboo flowers, the more they multiply. As a result,
it can lead to famine because the rats are eating all the crops and
paddy in farm," he added.

The authorities have reportedly acknowledged the problem the villagers
face but are yet to provide help to eliminate the threat from rats.
The locals therefore are using their own technique by beating the rats
to death for self preservation. Bamboos are said to bloom, flower and
bear fruits once in 50 years. It is called the end of the life cycle
of bamboo.
 
The same thing happens in Mizoram state in India which shares a border
with Chin state of Myanmar and in Bangladesh. (READ MORE) But the Mizoram
government has taken preventive measures to stop multiplication of rats.
It is also into a public awareness campaign regarding possible famine.
In Chin state,there are no preparations or preventive measures adopted by the
military regime. As a result, famine is likely the following year. In
a bid to avoid the famine caused by rats, most Chin people are
beginning the shift to Mizoram state.
 

In the area where two of our mission Pastors work thousands of people
need emergency food supplies. They are crying with hunger. Their rice
crops have been destroyed by rats. In this area approximately 50% of
farmers got 10% of their expected rice harvest, 30% of farmers got 5%
and another 20% of farmers did not get anything. The military regime
is obstructing relief to the famine-affected areas. It just happened
four years ago but this year is the worsen year we faced as the rats
scattering in everywhere.Christian associations have given rice but
the Burma Army camp officers have not allowed those donations through
to villagers in many areas.They has not helped the farmers whose
fields were eaten by rats.We have small team in our Church has gone
directly into villages and distributed rice to famine-affected
villagers.But we were not able to give them much and yet the  Army
officers reportedly got angry with us and then warned and intimidated
villagers, saying things like, "one day you must vomit up that rice."
 

Another report from our mission Pastor

Famine in Chin State, Burma
The people who are dwelling in the region of Paletwa Township, Matupi
Township, and Thatlang Township, Chin State, Myanmar, have been badly
struck by a terrible famine since last year, 2007. But this year 2010
is the best worse ever happened.The region is bordered by India to the
northwest and Bangladesh to southwest. The people are known as the
Mara, Khumi, and Lemro tribes. They are different ethnic tribes living
together in the region for ages. The region is occupied by serrated
mountains and separated by deep valleys. Most of the villages are
built on the summits of mountains. Very narrow lanes and paths connect
the villages and one can travel only on bare foot for days carrying
everything needed on back loads. Because of the mountainous and rugged
nature of the region during the rainy season even animals find
difficult to move from one place to another. The outsiders may wonder
why the forefathers of these tribes must have chosen this region for
their homeland.
The forefathers were moving from one place to another before settling
down in the present region. One of the reasons for choosing the
present abode might be its bamboo jungle. For ages, bamboo jungle has
been known as a fertile and productive land. Among the Chin people
rice is considered a superior food and it is highly valued till today.
To the people bamboo jungle means "rice bowl".
From time immemorial, slash and burn shifting hill-side cultivation is
the only means for their survival. Lives mainly depend upon the
monsoon and upon the bamboo jungle. In the past the dwellers in the
region, in fact, have had little interest in moving to other regions -
"after all, if you live in the jungle of bamboo why go elsewhere?"
Bamboo indeed is almost everything to the people. Most of the houses
are built with bamboo leaves roofing, matted floors and often double
layered split bamboo walling. Bamboo shoot is their favorite side
dish. Basket and some containers are made with bamboo. Bamboo jungle
is their rice bowl. It is rightly noted that bamboo is not just a poor
mans timber, but it is a life blood of the people dwelling in this
particular region. For them the dying of bamboo indicates the end of
life in this
region.
Bamboo jungle covers more than half area of the region. The flowering
and withering of the bamboo has been known to recur periodically at an
interval of fifty years. Elders of the tribes have recorded them as
having taken place in the years 1862, 1911, 1952. The people have for
ages dreaded withering of bamboo because it had led to terrible famine
in the past. Sad is the time, the dreadful disaster repeats again
among the people as the flowering of bamboo has begun in last year,
2007. It is invariably followed by an unprecedented increase in the
rat population throughout the region, and which, in turn, wreaks havoc
on the standing crops leading ultimately to terrible famine throughout
the region. 
It is reported by two of our mission Pastors that last
year in October, 2007 at the village called Sulotla, Paletwa Township,
the rat ate and destroyed all the crops overnight and the rice fields
were left empty. In the next morning all the villagers had to leave
from their village and crossed to the India border in search of food.
A huge number of rats still destroying every crops stored in the farm
houses.I had never expected things were going very badly until I
received from both of our mission Pastors and told me in details of
the crisis in the land where they minister to the people.
 
According to Mara Social Welfare and Development Committee assessment
and scientific data collected so far, within the Chinland 47490 people
of 8856 families are now badly affected by the famine. This number
includes 1151 pregnant women, 11983 children below the age of five,
156 handicapped, and 4045 women feeding babies. The number will soon
be added from the people of Khumi and Lemro.Read previous reports here.
 
Scarcity of food and clean drinking water directly resulted in many
families to be in starvation, and caused increase of diarrhea, malaria
and other diseases among children and young people. Hundreds of people
have left from their respective villages and slipped into the India
border. Another hundreds of young men and women are moving to the
nearby towns and cities without having proper skills for work.
 
Some part of Mizoram State India also has affected by famine. The
Indian centre government, Mizoram state government, and other NGOs
have a long well planned to combat the disaster. Hundreds of crores of
money and thousands of tones of rice have been released to the people
of the effected region although the State estimates that an additional
5,740 tonnes of rice will be needed over the next two months to feed
the people according to the ActionAid.
 
Sadly, more people in Chin state have to go bed hungry. They hardly
have a simple rice to feed their starved children. It is only the
beginning of the tragic story of the people who are suffering
silently. Sad is the time that the suffering ones, their cry, and
their groan are hitherto unseen and unheard of.
Those unfortunate and starved people need someone who could speak out
on their behalves because they are voiceless ones. They need simple
rice just for their survival because they are hungry and they have no
brighter future. Women and children need somebody who cares for them
because they are ill-fed.
To help better with this crisis, the biggest team in the famine
affected region have formed a Joint Relief Committee. The committee is
comprised of Pastors and leaders in the Churches  under the initiative
taken by two of our mission Chruch planters and Pastors in that
areas.I can’t do much help but I wanted you to be in join hand in one
accord and seek the face of God with us in prayer and His mercy and
protection be upon them.If the Lord touch your heart to help them the
relief assistant it would be such an encouragement to them.

                                      APPEAL TO CHIN COMMUNITY AROUND THE WORLD

 To effectively respond this dreadful disaster in Chinland, we would like to request you to
contribute whatever amount in cash or in kind convenient toward the
Joint Relief Committee Relief Fund. To the Chin organization and
Churches, we request your support and cooperation in dealing with this
national crisis.We beg our brothers and sisters in abroad to take
action and pray for God’s great mercy to be upon this land in times of
their troubles.
 
APPEAL TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, AND FRIENDS AROUND
THE WORLD:
 We request your deeper acknowledgment of the situation and
the urgent need of emergency assistance. We ask your generous
contributions and a helping hand to those helpless and hunger people
that are badly hit by a dreadful natural calamity.

 
We urge every concerned individuals and parties across the world to
help the victims of drought in Chin State.Our team is committed to
assist and cooperate with any organization that is delivering any
assistance and help to the victims affected by the famine.
 
On behalf of the relief assistant team,
Your unworthy servant,
 
Pastor,Thaung

M300 Ministries Myanmar
Valiant Warrior