The death toll of the Southeast Asia earthquake has risen above 3,100 individuals. In Myanmar, search crews are sifting through debris hoping to find any trace of over 200 people who remain unaccounted for.
While recovery operations persist, a local organization based in the Twin Cities is exerting maximum effort to assist individuals abroad.
That was the moment when this earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck Myanmar, causing these St. Paul sisters to reach their limit.
“I found it hard to comprehend; things were just so baffling. As I examined it further, they became increasingly overwhelming,” stated Mirian Seng Bu, a resident of St. Paul. Mirian along with her sisters Ruth, Margaret, and Mary belong to the ‘Kachin’ ethnic group, which is part of the larger Tibeto-Burman community from northern Myanmar, commonly referred to as Burma. Following the military takeover, their family decided upon settling down in Minnesota.
Therefore, as they consume headlines reporting a death toll exceeding 3,000 in and around their home country...
I told my sisters right here, 'We can’t stay idle anymore,’ so we began brainstorming ideas for raising funds,” explained Mirian.
An idea has currently garnered more than $6,000 through GoFundMe along with a significant amount raised outside this platform.
"Essentially, what we want to ensure is that every single donation goes directly to those affected out there," Mirian said to WCCO.
They are collaborating with an Anglican archbishop well-acquainted with the family and a head of a youth philanthropy group who has previously assisted in similar scenarios.
"She was saved after being stuck for more than 120 hours at a hotel in Mandalay," Mirian mentioned additionally.
And as the sisters cannot be there to save...
Just let me voice support for my nation," Mirian stated. "Our folks are not quitters; I have faith in them. They will strive hard to reconstruct our tomorrow.
All the sisters have attended St. Paul College and are hoping their fundraising initiatives will make significant progress.
