Dear friends of the International Community,
On behalf of the people of Myanmar, we, at the Democracy for Burma Campaign need your assistance to help fund medical supplies and services for people facing extreme violence from the Myanmar military regime. Since the coup on February 1st, 2021, there has been countrywide resistance through creative non-violent tactics. The military has responded to the protestors using live ammunition, rubber bullets, water cannons, and brutal force to incite fear and inflict mental, emotional, and physical harm against innocent civilians. This has led to the death of hundreds, arrests of thousands, and the beating, and torturing of those in support of the resistance. The degree of violence we see now is unprecedented. The military has been setting random houses on fire, shooting openly into homes and hospitals at night, and dragging people out of their homes to execute them. Everyone is living in terror, and we expect things to get worse.
The doctors on the ground are overwhelmed by the amount of trauma flooding the hospitals and clinics. Although the military junta prohibits all clinics and health providers from tending to gunshot wounds, health care providers continue to risk their lives to support the wounded. One doctor was shot dead last night for tending to a wounded protestor in her apartment. The military targets emergency ambulances to prevent civilians from receiving care, and private practices are forced to report the names of those they treat. Emergency ambulances are being prevented from going out at night, even to reach crises unrelated to CDM (heart attacks, pregnancy-related emergencies, vehicle crashes, etc.) Medical supplies are extremely limited, and increased shortages are expected as violence continues to escalate. The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of monitoring, resources, and adherence to safety guidelines in addition to nationwide human rights violations, compound the concern of the public’s health with wider implications for the rest of the world.
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This fundraiser is held by Empowering Communities Inc (Australian Registered Charity) and the Democracy for Burma campaign.
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David Bacon (Empowering Communities) lived and worked in Myanmar for 3.5 years (2015 - 2018) as the project manager of a $2M+ AUD health systems strengthening project funded by DFAT. He is an Aid and Development Professional (Undergrad and Masters in Aid and Development) as well as studying Burmese Language for 3 years in Myanmar and the last 2 years at ANU in Australia. He has an extensive medical network in Myanmar. David has already raised and dispersed over $55,000 AUD in other fundraisers since the coup started.
Dr Geoff Cohn OAM (Co-founder Democracy for Burma) is an Australian Opthamologist who has been teaching and establishing eye care services in Myanmar for 19 years. Geoff’s efforts have to date restored sight for over 200,000 needy people. He has extensive medical networks on the ground in both the monastic and government systems.
Shane Brady (Co-founder Democracy for Burma) lived and worked in Myanmar between 2013 and 2018 running the humanitarian programs for Trocaire and Save the Children. He is a seasoned humanitarian veteran.
