The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28 has brought unimaginable suffering to people says Jesuit Fr Girish Santiago, the Regional Superior of Myanmar.
“The devastating earthquake is the latest in a relentless series of tragedies—COVID-19, coup, economic collapse, conscription laws, floods, and now this,” he said. “The suffering is unimaginable, with countless displaced internally and as refugees. Myanmar has never been more vulnerable.”
Despite the suffering, a glimmer of hope remains, according to him.
“Amid the darkness, your love shines through. Your messages, prayers, and support—via calls, emails, and social media—have been a lifeline. But the crisis is far from over. We still need you,” said on a social media post.
He has begun traveling to assess the damage firsthand. After a grueling journey from Yangon, he arrived in Taungngu, one of the affected areas on March 31.
On April 1, he visited Mandalay, another devastated zone. The scenes are heartbreaking: no electricity, scarce water, overcrowded shelters. Even Bishop John Gawdy’s room at Leiktho Minor Seminary bears the scars of this disaster.
“But hope remains. With your continued solidarity—through prayers, awareness, and aid—we can bring light to these shadows. Keep Myanmar in your hearts,” said Fr Santiago.
He is an Indian Jesuit missionary in Myanmar.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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