by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - The Refugees International non-profit organization reported last month that the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) in Myanmar has been restricting humanitarian aid to civilians, notably in areas with large populations of Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Among the areas of war-torn Myanmar that have been the hardest hit by the military’s violence are the southeastern states of Kayah and Karen, where there are large Christian communities, and the predominantly Christian-occupied northwestern state of Chin, ICC said.
According to Refugee International, civilians are deprived of basic necessities, as access roads into Myanmar from Thailand have been blocked, ICC reports. “Currently, over 14 million people need humanitarian aid in Myanmar,” ICC said in its report. “Please pray that civilians in Myanmar can freely receive assistance.”
In a website statement about the situation for Christians in Myanmar, the Open Doors USA Christian advocacy organization said: “After the military coup in February 2021, fighting has continued in predominantly Christian states like Kachin State, Karen State or in northern Shan State.
Churches have been destroyed, and Christians killed in Chin State (another majority-Christian region), and churches and pastors have been targeted. More Christians than ever have been driven out to live in camps for displaced people, where they are often deprived of access to food and healthcare because of their faith.”
The Buddhist Tatmadaw has been engaged in violent attacks against resistance and minority groups since its military coup on February 1.
Myanmar ranks 12th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2022 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.