Friends, thank you. Once again our supporters have shown that compassionate giving really can make a difference.

 

On 7th June, the Burma Army and proxy forces displaced nearly 4,000 people along the Burma border. They shelled and destroyed multiple villages. A community we have long supported, Ler Ber Her, was completely overrun.

 

Thanks to the generosity of people like yourselves, our support team in Thailand has been able to provide material aid, oversight of relief operations and have advocated with the authorities on behalf of the people.

 

Over the past several weeks you have helped us supply hundreds of lbs of food, clothing and survival supplies. Families are warmer, well fed and in better living conditions.

 

We are currently monitoring the situation of the new refugees. Fighting across the border has ceased, but the Burma Army now controls the area, which is littered with landmines.

 

Partners staff are working closely with the Thai authorities and other non-government organisations to ensure the refugees have a safe environment to live in and have their basic needs adequately met.

 

Thank you for partnering with us to demonstrate love to the vulnerable. Your donations really do help those who are in desperate need. Click the link below to send a gift now.

 

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.partnersworld.org/countrydonatechoose.html

Life is difficult for many - both young and old feel the strain of survival.

One grandmother carried a baby strapped to her back. She walked two days through jungle terrain to Ler Ber Her camp. She had recently lost her village to a military attack.

9 days later when Ler Ber Her was attacked, she fled again. The baby's mother was nowhere to be seen.

She had no choice but to cross the border into Thailand. A Buddhist monestery provided shelter. She spent the latter weeks of June with 800 other displaced women and children. They endured torrential rain and cramped conditions. She cared for the baby. They slept on the cement floor and all around her children laughed, cried and screamed.

In early July, she and the baby had to move again. Twice. Thai authorities had prepared shelter, food, latrines and water tanks in various locations along the border. She now lives in a 50sqft lean-to.

The grandmother wants to go back, but ethnic leaders and Thai authorities have decided it is far too dangerous for anyone to return across the border.

We are carefully monitoring their situation. Please pray as we do our best for them.

Fighting between the Burma Army and resistance groups has ceased in Ler Ber Her. The Burma Army now controls the area and it is littered with landmines.

During a recent meeting with the leaders of Ler Ber Her and the Thai authorities a decision was made that the area back across the border is now far to dangerous for the villagers to return to. Whilst the fighting has ceased, the area is not scattered with landmines. So a new temporary shelter sites are being set up for the almost 4000 people who were recently displaced. The pictures below show delivery of essential items to one of the sites - note the mountain rockface. Imagine hauling rice (50kg bags) up this! One of my colleagues witnessed a lady carrying a load, slip and land heavily on her hip. No broken bones, but a loud cry on impact. Please continue to pray for all those recently displaced who are now having to adapt to life as refugees and all the added problems that entails. You can also donate towards our essential work by clicking here.

The following images are the property of Partners Relief & Development. Please do not use within permission. Thank You.

“It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict” (Maj. Gen Patrick Cammaert - a former peacekeeper in Darfur)

 

Rape. It may be a small word, but it has a meaning that carries the power to destroy individuals, families and entire communities. All around the world, rape is used against women as a show of power and control. In Burma, it is also used as a weapon of war.

 

Just last week the Burma Army, the military force of the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council), began a new offensive along the border in Karen State. Almost 4000 civilians fled for their lives across the Moei River into Thailand creating an extensive emergency crisis. In the days leading up to the attacks, the Burma Army entered villages in the area forcibly recruiting soldiers and porters.

 

On 12^th June, Naw Pay and Naw Wah Lah chose to stay in their homes rather than try to outrun the Burma Army soldiers heading towards their village, which was a few hours walk from the border. Naw Pay - aged 18, was eight months pregnant and Naw Wah Lah - aged 17, had a six month old baby to care for.  It was a decision with dire consequences. When found by the soldiers they were taken out of their homes and gang raped. Afterwards, both young women and the unborn child were brutally murdered.

 

Tragically, this is not an isolated case. Over the past few years, a number of women’s groups based in Burma have produced reports documenting the systematic use of rape and sexual violence by the Burma Army against ethnic women and girls. The number of known rape victims, some going back as far as 1995, is just under 1,900.  However, this is only a fraction of the true number as so many women are afraid or unable to speak out about what has happened to them. Sometimes rape is carried out with such extreme brutality that for the victim, death can be the only possible outcome.

 

The SPDC, although they would deny it, encourage their military to use rape as part of a deliberate strategy to attain and strengthen control within ethnic areas. The horrific sexual assault and deaths of Naw Pay and Naw Wah Lah proves that ethnic women and girls in Burma live under the constant threat of rape during the course of their everyday lives. It could happen at any time – in their homes, whilst working on the farms, going to the market, travelling to school or collecting firewood.

 

Targeting women- those who are seen as the main carers - can destabilise a community. Rape humiliates and instils fear, which in turn causes distrust and disunity.

 

In 2008 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution that rape and sexual violence used in armed conflict should be classed as a weapon of war and those who perpetrate it can be tried in an international criminal court for crimes against humanity.  

 

However, words and resolutions mean very little to a regime intent on power at any cost and unless there is real and lasting intervention from the UNSC and the wider international community the SPDC will continue to deny their actions and neglect any obligations to any international conventions they have ratified.

 

We at Partners know we cannot give the families of Naw Paw and Naw Wah Lah back their daughters, wives, sisters, mothers or grandchild, but we can commit to not allow their deaths to be in vain.

We have just been informed by our team that the Burma Army have begun an offensive against displaced villagers along the Thai-Burma border and early this morning heavy bombing has been heard.

There are an estimated 800 Burma Army troops, joined by 300 soldiers from their proxy forces spread along approximately 20 - 30km of border region.

Three days ago there was an ambush which reportedly left four Burma Army soldiers deceased and four wounded. This resulted in the Burma Army retreating a short distance. On Thursday there was a second ambush where one Burma soldier died and four were wounded. This has resulted in the Burma Army reinforcing their troops.

Innocent children and families are hungry and at risk. With their home villages destroyed or in peril, the options to escape to safety are limited. Major evacuations are under way.

Yesterday all women and children were evacuated, leaving the older people and men at the camp last night. They plan to move them today. Since the 3rd of June, more than 3,295 villagers have left their villages inside Karen State Burma and travelled to towns inside Tak province in Thailand. The Thai authorities have been very helpful.

These villagers from eleven different internally displaced persons villages were being forced to be porters and human mine sweepers for the Burma Army in preparation of this attack. Many of these families have already fled previous Burma Army attacks.

As recently as last week, Partners' staff assisted 40 families with essential survival materials, such as mosquito nets, blankets, clothes, pots, pans, and bowls. Partners' staff are rapidly working with ethnic leaders to provide critical assistance to the hundreds of families have arrived at the border seeking aid and refuge. Food and medicine are being distributed.

Yesterday, the Partners Mae Sot staff delivered aid and emergency supplies to these villagers. Three four-wheel drive trucks were fully loaded and supplies were delivered to the camp leader.

We were able to give: Two trucks of clothing Medicines for 200 cases of each of the following illnesses: malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory, wound care, analgesics etc 30 pots 25 large sized tarpaulins 100 bottles of mosquito repellent 15 boxes each containing 100 dried fish 10 boxes each containing 180 individual packs of Ma Ma noodles 5 boxes each containing 96 packs of small shrimp 72 bottles of cooking oil Rolls of plastic sheeting

All of this was brought in torrential rain, which continued for 90% of the journey - usually this journey takes 1 hour 45 minutes, but yesterday took 5 hours. The team prayed with the camp leader and Isaiah 41:10 came to their minds (Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand)

YOU CAN DONATE TODAY TOWARDS THIS EMERGENCY CRISIS – WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE VISIT : http://www.partnersworld.org.uk/donate.html

Thanks for your ongoing support and prayers.

We will endeavour to update you as soon as we hear news.