By: Erik Tryggestad
Church of Christ members in Thailand collected and distributed
thousands of dollars worth of relief supplies after a fire killed dozens
of people in a refugee camp.
Three women who lost their homes in the Ban Mae Surin refugee camp fire. (Photo provided by Robert Reagan)
The blaze, likely the result of a cooking fire, devastated the remote
Ban Mae Surin refugee camp Thailand’s northwestern Mae Hong Son
province, near the country’s border with Myanmar. The camp, launched in
1992, houses thousands of refugees who fled ethnic conflict in Myanmar.
The blaze claimed 32 lives, injured 100 people and left nearly 2,300
homeless, CNN reports. Most of the victims are members of the Karen ethnic group.
Robert Reagan, a member of a mission team in Chiang Mai, Thailand, help launch a fundraiser for the victims,
which netted about $3,000. Reagan and Thai Christians bought clothing,
detergent and toothpaste. The Chiang Mai University Pharmacy donated 40
first-aid kits and gave Reagan a discount on 90 more — the rest of their
stock. The Christians also bought lots of Thai style noodles and
cooking supplies. Then they traveled to the camp.
"This lady was rummaging through the debris trying to find a pan for cooking," said Robert Reagan, left. (Photo provided)
“It was a little overwhelming at first – realizing that some families
lost everything, even loved ones,” Reagan said in a recent blog post.
“The refugee camp is divided into four sections. Two of the four
sections burned. Most families lost everything they owned. I was pleased
to see how those who lost their homes were being taken care of by the
refugees from the two sections that didn’t burn.
“When I asked the local refugees about their current needs, they
responded that their food and clothing needs had been taken care of.
They said people are ready to help the areas that burned, but their
school probably won’t get much help since it didn’t burn. … The main
assembly hall has a dusty dirt floor, very few chairs and only a few
tables.
“Now is a time of seeking clarification of how to help provide
further assistance in a wise way. Lots of organizations will help with
the rebuilding, but will anyone notice the school that didn’t burn? My
heart feels drawn toward helping these refugees in a way that can be a
long-term blessing to their kid’s education.”
Before he left the camp, Reagan joined a group of Christians in the camp for Sunday worship in the Karen language.
“The only word I understood was ‘Amen,’” he said, “but I felt like we
were one in spirit, and several came up to thank me for joining their
assembly when it was finished.”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit
you?’The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
The humble school building in the refugee camp. (Photo provided)
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