[Today’s Prayer] 5.5 earthquake on first day of Myanmar's biggest holiday… Concerns over epidemic due to military airstrikes and heatwave

About two weeks after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on the 28th of last month, another aftershock measured 5.5 has struck. The military, which promised a ceasefire, continues its attacks, and the worries of Myanmar residents continue.

According to AP and other sources on the 13th, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake, the largest aftershock since the 28th of last month, struck again near the small city of Meiktila in central Myanmar that morning, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The city, located south of Mandalay, which had already been hit by an earthquake, was hit by a strong aftershock during relief efforts, causing extensive damage. Two residents told AP that the earthquake was so strong that people ran out of buildings and the ceilings of some houses were damaged.

The earthquake occurred on the first day of the Thingyan holiday, Myanmar's biggest holiday. Thingyan, which lasts for 4-5 days in mid-April every year, is a public holiday throughout Myanmar and is the period when the water festival to welcome the new year is held. However, since the large-scale earthquake at the end of last month, most of the festivals have been canceled.

In Myanmar, where a large-scale earthquake struck, the military's gunfire continues and its brutality is growing. As of the 11th, the Myanmar military announced that the official death toll from the earthquake in Myanmar was 3,649, and the number of injured was 5,018. However, the actual death toll could be twice that, and the Myanmar people, who are already suffering from serious civil war, are in a miserable state due to the military's bombing.

Earlier, the Myanmar military declared a three-week ceasefire on the 3rd to recover from the earthquake damage, and decided to stop gunfire until the 22nd. The National Unity Government (NUG), the interim government of Myanmar's democratic camp, also declared a two-week ceasefire on the 30th of last month, ahead of the military.

But it is not being maintained. Ravina Shamdasani, the UN Human Rights Office representative in Geneva, said, “Now is the time to focus all efforts on delivering humanitarian assistance to the disaster area, but since the earthquake, the Myanmar military has carried out more than 120 attacks,” and “more than half of them have occurred since the ceasefire was declared on the 2nd.”

The brutality of a massive earthquake in Myanmar continues to grow as military gunfire continues to rage. The Myanmar military says the official death toll from the earthquake in Myanmar is 3,649, with 5,018 injured. However, the actual death toll could be twice as high, and the people of Myanmar, already suffering severely from civil war, have been devastated by the military's bombing campaign.

Earlier, Myanmar's military declared a three-week temporary ceasefire to allow the country to recover from the devastating earthquake on March 3, with gunfire to stop by the 22nd. The National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar's pro-democracy interim government, also announced a two-week ceasefire on March 30, preceding the military.

In areas hit by the earthquake, heat waves and rain are causing more damage and raising concerns about the spread of disease. Residents of Sein Pan Street, located on the western outskirts of Mandalay, are spending the night lying down on mats spread out on a school playground. Kyaw, 27, who has been living outdoors here since his house collapsed, told Le Monde on the 12th, “People are in a situation where they can only rely on themselves,” adding, “We are getting by on food sent by humanitarian organizations, but even that is not enough.”

Source: News

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows (Psalm 22:24-25)

We hear that a 5.5 aftershock recently struck near the small central Myanmar city of Naypyidaw, which was hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28, leaving the people of Myanmar even more devastated than before.

With 3,649 people killed and 5,018 injured in the last major earthquake, and the military's bombing campaign in Myanmar's civil war doubling the actual death toll, the people of Myanmar are suffering terribly.

However, we believe that God knows the plight of Myanmar and has not hidden His face, but has heard the groans of Myanmar!

Provide the people of Myanmar with practical help and the money to rebuild after the devastating earthquake that left them with nowhere to go, and let them find peace again through Your security!

Fill the land of Myanmar with the love of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for sinners, that it may be transformed into your holy nation, free of civil war and strife and forgiving of one another!

Comfort the grieving families who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and civil war, so that they may be boldly victorious in reliance on the power of the cross that conquered death!

Raise up Your children who will fear You alone and obey Your gospel, and they will depart from the idols that have taken hold in the land of Myanmar!

Through the concern and prayers of the ASEAN Church and the global church, wash away all the sin and suffering surrounding Myanmar with Your blood, and send forth laborers to harvest the gospel of life over death in the land of Myanmar!

Raise up a Myanmar church that will carry the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission! Now send out Myanmar missionaries to fulfill Your covenant for the evangelization of the world!

Arise, Myanmar, a golden fishing ground for the salvation of souls, fishing for the nations with the gospel!

Arise, ASEAN One Million Elephant Army, through the missionary revival in Myanmar!