31 March 2025
Many people have been asking questions since the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on Friday March 28, so I thought I should send a brief update.
Since the earthquake, members of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar (PCM) international partners roundtable group have been in communication with each other to try and determine the impact on the PCM. So far, there has been no direct contact with any of the PCM’s leaders apart from the former General Secretary Rev Ramthanga, who lives a long way from the epicentre of the quake. He said things are fine in his area near the Indian border, but didn't provide any other information. So at this stage we don’t know anything about Tahan/Kalaymyo where the PCM Assembly Office, hospital and theological college are located; or the Chin State where many of their members live.
A graph of the quake's impact suggests that Tahan and the Chin State might have been spared serious impact, and anecdotal messages have also inferred this, but we won’t know until direct contact can be made. It appears that all communications in their area are down. So at this stage it is wait and see, and pray. As for the relief efforts in the affected areas, which include Mandalay where PCM has churches and members, we can only hope an international rescue effort will be given full access to help.
Of course, the debilitating effects of the junta's treatment of the country over the last four years have made it much more difficult for humanitarian NGOs to respond effectively to this new crisis.
The BBC international news website is a good source for verified news.
Unfortunately PCANZ Global Mission is not in a position to do anything until we have information, which might be a while in coming. If people wish to make a contribution to relief efforts at this stage, the Red Cross has launched an appeal and the details of this can be found on their website.
Let us uphold the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar, and indeed all citizens of Myanmar in prayer as they deal with the impacts of this earthquake in the midst of an ongoing civil war throughout the country. And if you know of Myanmar nationals living in New Zealand, I am sure they will appreciate pastoral care and words of support where possible.
- Rev Wayne Matheson, PCANZ Assembly Executive Secretary, on behalf of PCANZ Global Mission