Crisis & Disaster Response
Myanmar Relief Fund
- Location Myanmar
- Timeframe August 2024 - January 2025
- People Displaced religious minorities
- Project Goal $50,000
Crisis & Disaster Response
Myanmar (formerly Burma) experienced a military coup in February 2021. The resulting instability displaced over 2.8 million people and left more than 18 million in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
In addition to this crisis, predominantly Christian communities in states like Karenni face direct persecution by the state military, which uses landmines to control the civilian population. In 2023 alone, there were over 1,000 casualties from landmines. This ongoing threat continues to disrupt livelihoods, endanger children, and prevent free movement to towns, cities, fields, and churches, which are often deliberately targeted.
Training and education will provided through community engagement to raise awareness. Israeli experts in de-mining will map out and assess the landmine zones. After identifying high risk areas landmines will be removed, enabling Christian communities to return to their churches and regain their livelihoods.
De-Mining (2025) The goal of this project is to remove landmines contaminating Karenni State. Currently, people live in constant fear of being killed or severely injured by landmines indiscriminately placed throughout the region. Clearing these mines will restore safety, prevent further loss of innocent lives, and allow people to worship freely and rebuild their livelihoods.
In 2024 1,003 deaths and injures from landmines were recorded. It is expected the number is much higher. Innocent civilians, including many children, are killed or maimed by stepping on mines. Once the land is cleared of this threat, the people of Karenni State will finally be free from fear, able to return home, rebuild their lives, and raise their families in safety.
The de-mining project consists of three stages. The first stage involves assessing the situation on the ground and raising awareness through educational materials and community engagement. In the second stage, the volunteer team will collect data to map and identify high-risk areas. In the final stage, Shai Fund will collaborate with international experts and local community groups to clear the landmines.
Food and Educational Support (2021) The military coup in February 2021, combined with the impact of COVID-19, pushed Myanmar to the brink of disaster. Mass displacement and destruction led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
This project provided nutritional support to 2,304 displaced individuals living in 12 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and two churches affected by the military crackdown. Additionally, 234 students received educational support, including tuition and monthly school fees, uniforms, learning materials, ferry transportation, and vocational training.
Children from 250 displaced households in IDP camps and two churches received assistance, including 74 children of pastors who died from COVID-19 due to the collapse of the healthcare system following the military coup. In total, 1,769 children received food aid, and 12 teachers were provided with educational materials.
Your investment will raise community awareness and support landmine removal in Kayah (Karreni) State, allowing displaced Christians to safely return to their churches, homes, and livelihoods.