Churches send aid after Myanmar cyclone kills 10,000

Churches and Christian NGO organizations in the country are en route to Myanmar to aid the victims of a cyclone that killed at least 10,000 people in the Southeast Asian country.

The cyclone, another deadliest natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami, has rendered thousands of people homeless, forcing aid agencies to deliver plastic sheeting, water and cooking equipments.

Power was knocked out in the former capital, Yangon, and drinking water was contaminated in the city of 5 million people.

"This is probably the most devastating natural disaster in Southeast Asia since the tsunami," said Laura Blank, spokeswoman for World Vision, referring to the 2004 disaster that killed around 230,000 people in 12 Indian Ocean nations. "There are a lot of important needs, but the most important is clean water."

Meanwhile, Gospel for Asia Bible College in Rangoon, Burma is now been made a makeshift shelter for those affected by the devastating cyclone. GFA missionaries serve at about 400 churches and 250 mission stations in Burma.

"The people in Burma live in clusters of small communities in simple bamboo structures," said its President KP Yohannan. "These villages are not made of concrete. I imagine that literally hundreds of these simple structures were just blown away. We are praying here in India and are asking Christians around the world to join us."

"Rangoon is in total darkness and they are estimating that there will not be electricity for at least three months," Yohannan said.

Yohannan urged for continued prayers for the people of Burma and the missionaries assisting the victims.

Two Indian naval ships loaded with food, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines would sail for Yangon soon, Indian's Ministry of External Affairs said.

U.N. agencies were working with the Red Cross and other organizations to see how it can help those affected by the cyclone.

"It's clear that this is a major disaster," Richard Horsey, of the United Nations disaster response office in Bangkok, said after an emergency aid meeting.

"How many people are affected? We know that it's in the six figures. We know that it's several hundred thousand needing shelter and clean drinking water, but how many hundred thousand we just don't know," he said.

Meanwhile, Global Council of Indian Christians has appealed for prayers and support for the people of Myanmar.