As we go about our business…

…let’s remember the tremendous human toll two disasters in the East have taken on people in Burma and China. The humanitarian crises in both places is only getting worse.

The military junta in Burma cares more about its power than its people, and it flew in the face of world outrage this week by holding a referendum to keep its power while holding back relief aid.

Burma’s government says the new constitution paves the way for general elections in 2010, but critics say the new charter only strengthens the military’s control over the country.

The international community criticized Burma’s military rulers for holding the scheduled vote a week after Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma’s Irrawaddy Delta region.

And…

Human Rights Watch says governments should not endorse the results of Burma’s constitutional referendum.

What difference would that make to the very strongmen who shut world government relief efforts out of their country?

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has far more devastation from this week’s earthquake there than they can handle, and conditions keep getting worse.

The government was quick to send 130,000 soldiers to try to save lives.  But is still not able to organise itself to help the millions of survivors.  This is in part because of the extent of the damage: more than 4 million buildings destroyed or damaged in Sichuan, and that is still a partial estimate; another 400,000 in nearby Gansu and 300,000 in Shaanxi.

Millions have been left homeless, and many still have no shelter and are living on the streets.  At least 20 cities and counties of Sichuan are without running water, and water purification tablets have not been delivered.  There has been serious damage to the electrical and gas systems, and camp stoves and portable toilets are still lacking. 

There is no clothing or blankets; everything has remained buried, or the people are afraid to go back to get them in their precarious homes.  Food and water are in short supply, and even body bags are lacking.  So the risk of disease is rising.  Supplies are hard to deliver in part because many roads are still blocked.

What can we do?

Here’s an organization doing good work in both regions.

And here’s a prayer issued by Pope Benedict for the Church in China. And at least the Church in Burma is able to do relief work on the ground there while world aid keeps trying to get past the military. Pray for them, too.

Human dignity is under assault in all kinds of places.