[Today's Prayer] Myanmar Earthquake, 3,700 Dead, One Month Later... Recovery Difficulties Amid Intensifying Civil War

A month after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that occurred in Myanmar on the 28th of last month, the death toll has exceeded 3,700, and the number of injured has reached 5,000.

Amid the intensifying civil war, recovery efforts are facing great difficulties, and the water, electricity, and medical services needed by the 50,000 displaced and injured people are still insufficient.

According to local media outlets such as Myanmar Now on the 28th (local time), the death toll from this earthquake, as calculated by the Myanmar military government as of the 23rd, is 3,769, the number of injured is 5,106, and the number of missing is 107.

However, the actual damage is expected to be even greater.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that 17 million people, one-third of Myanmar's entire population, were affected, and that 9 million of them were seriously damaged.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicted that there was a 71% chance that the death toll would exceed 10,000 immediately after the earthquake.

In addition to human casualties, material damage was also significant.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that approximately 1.6 million buildings were damaged in areas strongly affected by the earthquake, many of which were not designed to withstand earthquakes and suffered major damage.

In particular, more than 10,000 houses, public buildings, and medical facilities were severely damaged or completely destroyed, limiting the role of the public.

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Myanmar, considered the poorest country in Southeast Asia, was devastated even before the earthquake due to the intensifying civil war following the 2021 coup.

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The civil war situation is also a major obstacle to international relief efforts.

Sagaing, adjacent to the epicenter of the earthquake, is a stronghold of anti-junta resistance forces, and is the area where the military's airstrikes, massacres, and arson attacks are concentrated.

The People’s Defense Force (PDF) has declared a halt to all offensive activities in the earthquake-stricken area, but the Myanmar military continues to conduct airstrikes.

Source: Newsis

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! (Psalm 40:11-13)

Merciful Father God, a month after the great earthquake in Myanmar, we hear that many houses, public buildings, and medical facilities have collapsed, more than 3,000 people have lost their lives, and there are still 50,000 displaced people who have not been able to return home.

Now that the recovery work is needed, the civil war between the Myanmar military regime and the rebels has intensified, and despite the ceasefire agreement, the Myanmar military continues to conduct airstrikes on rebel-held areas, making recovery work very difficult, and the souls of Myanmar are living in even more confusion and fear.

Lord, please have mercy on the souls of Myanmar, who are surrounded by numerous disasters. Please protect the souls of Myanmar with your mercy and truth.

Please let the ASEAN Church and the global church believe that only the Savior Jesus can help and save the people of Myanmar, and pray and serve more for the people of Myanmar.

Therefore, not only will the souls of Myanmar, who are in great sorrow and despair, quickly receive the necessary water, electricity, and medical services, but also let them meet Jesus, the true comforter and savior of Myanmar, and live with the hope of eternal heaven.

Also, please let the increasingly intensifying civil war in Myanmar come to a halt quickly, and let the people of Myanmar realize the love of Jesus, forgive each other, and unite in harmony according to God’s will.

In the time of tribulation, in the last days, we believe that God wants to use the Myanmar church and the ASEAN church!

Now, please let the strong darkness that has been covering Myanmar collapse and give the Myanmar church a holy missionary revival that has never been seen before, so that the Myanmar church can advance with the gospel among the ASEAN people and all peoples!

Let the ASEAN churches that see the revival of the Myanmar church rise up together and yearn for revival, and let them rise up as a holy ASEAN 1 million elephant army that fulfills the Lord's Great Commission!