Brethren prepare grant to support disaster relief in Myanmar.

The Church of the Brethren is contributing a $5,000 grant from its Emergency Disaster Fund to the international relief effort following a devastating cyclone in Myanmar. The grant supports the work of Church World Service (CWS) in Myanmar. CWS reports that the death toll is predicted to reach as high as 80,000 from the destruction brought by Cyclone Nagris, and thousands more are missing.

The grant request came from Brethren Disaster Ministries. "A coordinated response is hampered by extensive limitations from the Myanmar government and by US sanctions against the government," the request said. "This initial grant will support immediate relief operations and assessment of Myanmar Council of Churches. Additional grants are expected as CWS finds ways to work around these challenges."

CWS appealed for an initial amount of $50,000 from its supporters, and the Church of the Brethren is just one of several groups contributing grants. CWS Acting Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator is to arrive in Myanmar tomorrow, May 9, and other CWS team members are to follow as soon as their visas are cleared.

Source: 5/07/2008 Newsline