Burmese in Italy to host charity event for "Karen Ne” state

A Burmese Catholic priest residing in Italy is organizing a charity event to support people affected by the recent clashes between the military and resistance forces in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

The charity event will take place on Sunday, March 21 at Parrocchia Santario S. Maria Madre della Divina Grazia in Largo domus de Maria,7, 00148, Ponte Galeria beginning from 11 am to 3 pm.

The event will have a multi-religion praying ceremony, lunch with Myanmar traditional foods, special events for children, souvenir shops, traditional dances from multiple Myanmar ethnic cultures and music performances.

“We are donating everything that we made in the event to "Kayin Ne" State because I've heard that situations are worsening there,” said the priest told RVA News.

The priest says that there would be no practical outcomes “if we just keep doing the three-finger salute and praying.”

“I thought about the things I can do for them. So, I came up with this plan to organize a charity event to make donations. I want to help them in an impactful way,” the priest said.

The priest from Loikaw says, “My donations are not very big yet, but I do think it will be enough for medicine for health and food of the people who are hiding in the jungles.”

The priest notes that after the military coup on February 1, 2021, the physical conflict in the region became much more intense. As a result, Catholic churches have been closed, people displaced in forests, and living without basic facilities.

Recently, six churches were damaged due to military shelling, which has led the priests, nuns, and people to flee to the jungle.