Scottish International Relief’s feeding programme, Mary’s Meals, had just recently been introduced at six schools in the region, three in Burma and three in the Mae Sot refugee camp on the Thai border that help Burmese refugees. The Mary’s Meals programme is aimed at helping the world’s poorest children by offering a free daily meal in a school environment.

The scheme now encourages 330,000 children globally to attend school, get a meal and gain an education, which is thought by many to be the children’s best escape route from poverty.

Now following the 120-mile an hour tropical storm that brought death, devastation and destruction, leaving 24,000 dead and over 40,000 missing, the schools providing Mary’s Meals for over 400 orphans and refugees lie in ruins.

 Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Chief Executive of the multi-faith charity said they were determined not to walk away from their Burmese goal. Speaking from the charity’s Argyll headquarters, Magnus said:

 “The children at the three schools in Mae Sot had just begun to enjoy and expect their daily meal of rice and vegetables thanks to the Mary’s Meals kitchens. We were starting to see the benefits.  Many of the children are orphans and some had been rescued from traffickers supplying the sex industry. But now we fear many of the children will struggle to find food or water and we fear for them all.

 “Our aim is to try and help the local communities we have got to know through establishing Mary’s Meals projects at Mae Sot. Speaking to our friends in Burma it is clear the situation is catastrophic.  We have assured them we will try and help them over the coming weeks and months to rebuild the schools and make sure they have enough food. These children deserve a chance to be fed and educated. They deserve a future.”

 Mary’s Meals is a no-frills charity, 93p in every pound raised is spent directly on providing food and cooking on four continents. Mary’s Meals projects were operating in the refugee camps on the Thai border as well as our schools in Burma. If you can help us rebuild the dream, of helping orphaned or refugee Burmese children please call:  01838 200 605 or make a donation by online at:  www.sircharity.org

SIR IS A NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHARITY.   OUR HELP IS OFFERED ON THE BASIS OF NEED ALONE.