Gregory

The Trump administration’s immigration restrictions have had a devastating impact on people from Myanmar’s, disproportionately affecting refugees and students. Many of them, who have waited years in refugee camps, are now seeing their dreams of a better life in the United States dashed, while the new policies threaten to set a dangerous precedent for other countries.

Myanmar’s military recently attacked the Bangkok IDP Camp, on the border between Shan and Kayah States. Schools and several shelters in the camp have been hit over the past year, part of a deliberate strategy of violence to weaken resistance to the regime.

Three weeks after an earthquake devastated Mandalay and central Myanmar, the Church remains close to the faithful and the victims, offering material and spiritual support. While many churches remain unusable, Holy Week is being celebrated in camps for displaced people and in parish halls. Maximilian, a Caritas volunteer, says that despite the destruction and the pain, people support each other in a true experience of rebirth.

A humanitarian worker talks to AsiaNews about the situation in the areas affected by the earthquake that struck in late March. The military often blocks loads, fuelling fear and uncertainty. The regime, committed to rebuilding its own facilities instead of bringing relief to the population, would like to hide the displaced. No coordinated effort is being made to pull out the dead from the rubble. The needs are huge, but “with the right support, we can reach the most vulnerable.”

A health worker talks to AsiaNews about fleeing her village in Mandalay due to airstrikes by junta planes that continued after the earthquake. Only last night, the military announced a 20-day ceasefire in the most affected areas to facilitate aid. But few people trust their words.