Eden Social Welfare Foundation expresses deep concern regarding the current Crisis in Myanmar. This Crisis not only affects human rights and disruption of democratization and peace, but most importantly, on the safety of persons with disabilities and children with disabilities.
Currently, roughly 2 million persons live with some form of disability (UN State, https://bit.ly/3tnTBjN, 2021). COVID-19 already has a considerable impact on their living condition. Yet, this ongoing coup carried out on February 1st, 2021, has drastically worsened their living conditions. With more and more violent incidents across the country, the fatality rate increased, and the infrastructures were damaged. As a result, persons with disabilities are at increased risk due to poor health conditions and socioeconomic inequalities, such as lesser access to health care and food.
"More and more poor people have lost their jobs and are unable to afford food due to this coup," according to WFP's director for Myanmar, Stephen Anderson. (UN News, https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1090342, 2021)
Eden has been advocating human rights and peace for almost 40 years and has collaborated with NGOs in Myanmar for over five years. For instance, Eden partnered with The Leprosy Mission Myanmar (TLMM) to provide prosthesis and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities to regain their mobility and find job opportunities. Furthermore, Since 2015, Eden has partnered with Eden Center for Disabled Children (ECDC) in Myanmar to provide care for children with disabilities. Hence, it is particularly heartbreaking for Eden to see the current turmoil.
Thus, Eden would like to take this moment to call for immediate attention to the safety of persons with disabilities in Myanmar during the time of Crisis. Eden will continue to support NGOs in Myanmar to improve the current condition of persons with disabilities as well as children with disabilities.
"But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth." - Psalm 34:16-17 (N.I.V.)
