EMERGENCY PROVISION OF RELIEF AND SCRIPTURES (Myanmar and China) Following the catastrophic events in both countries in May 2008, Bible Societies are combining their efforts to work with relief agencies to meet the immediate humanitarian and spiritual needs of survivors. Myanmar In Myanmar (Burma) an estimated 134,000 people have lost their lives in the flooding caused by Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta. A further 2.4 million people have been plunged into severe hardship, traumatized by loss and destruction all around. The Bible Society in Myanmar has been central to the response as the Society's General Secretary, Rev Mar Gay Gyi, is chairing the Inter-agency Relief Committee. The presence of these established agencies within the country has been crucial in the face of the restrictions on foreign aid imposed by the Government. The Bible Society's specific response to the crisis has been to distribute bags of rice, clothing and Bibles to survivors. This effort is being financed by gifts through Bible Societies outside the country. It is vital that this kind of action continues as the government propaganda still goes on and outside help remains banned. APPEAL INFORMATION (pdf FILE) China The earthquake in Sichuan province on 12 May 2008 is thought to have killed 80,000 people. The sudden and complete collapse of so many buildings has meant that family members of all ages have lost their possessions, including, in Christian homes, their Bible. Now, torrential downpours have swept across the country in the last few weeks. Flooding is common for the time of year the earthquake has weakened the mountainsides, increasing the level and spread of flood waters. Rescue workers suggest that at least 50,000 people from villages around the county town of Wenchuan have been forced to move because of the threat of landslides down nearby hillsides. So many more families have lost their homes and belongings in this latest cruelty of nature. Bible Societies have a long association with the Three Self Patriotic Church and the China Christian Council. Since 1987 Bible Societies have provided printing paper to the Amity Printing Press in the city of Nanjing from which over 50 million Bibles have now been printed. Distribution is from 70 depots throughout the country. The Bibles are printed in 8 different Chinese languages in addition to the Braille format for the blind. The China Christian Council is now going to use these resources to bring comfort to survivors of the earthquake, providing new Bibles to replace those that have been lost to the destruction. The China Catholic Patriotic Association has requested 50,000 copies of the Bible to be sent to Sichuan for those who have lost their Bible, and for those who have not previously owned a Bible. Anyone who wishes to know more about these two initiatives or wishes to express interest in supporting these efforts should contact John Doherty (General Secretary): The Bible Society in Northern Ireland 27 Howard Street Belfast BT1 6NB Tel. (028) 90326577 Email: GSec@bsni.co.uk 23 June 2008