Myanmar Church Reports on Response to Pandemic

Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, issued the following statement to accompany the Church in Myanmar’s report on its response to the pandemic.

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I am sending this brief report of Myanmar Church’s response to the ravages of COVID.

COVID has thrown a challenge to humanity. As the Pope constantly reminds us ‘we are all together in this.’ We are grateful to the global solidarity emerging among people of the world. COVID was merciful to us till August second week, with just 400 cases and 10 deaths.

From August 16^th Myanmar is gripped by a virulent surge of the virus. The country is desperately trying to flatten the spread. As of today, the virus is on an exponential spread with 15,000 people infected and around 400 dead. The country’s health system is overwhelmed.

During these challenges, the Myanmar church has balanced safety with solidarity. In the first phase from March to August, the church responded with the following programs benefitting thousands :

Preventive sensitization in the vulnerable areas, the supply of PPEs
Food delivery to the starving population, support to most vulnerable groups
The offer of our Major Seminary as the quarantine center
Advocacy for non-discrimination in service delivery, the ceasefire in conflict areas.

The second phase hits us from August 16^th forcing a strict lockdown impacting food and survival of thousands. The Church has responded with upscaling our response with the following plans :

Food security to the most affected, starting with the 1000 families for three months
Motivating Christian community to support the poor feeding to at least 50 families in each parish
Continued preventive support – sensitization and supply of preventive pieces of equipment
Offering church facilities for quarantine set up – seminaries, if needed even churches
Collaborating with the government in reaching out to the vulnerable communities
National and global contingency fundraising.
Continued Advocacy for peace, integrated approach among various stakeholders.
Establishing the online pastoral presence and online Counseling Centre

We continue to be grateful to our friends all over the world for your accompaniment with prayers and other supports.

With Assurance of our Prayers,

In Fellowship,

+ Charles Cardinal Bo,

Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar.