FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA – October 15, 2025) Last month the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held a one-day conference on the growing humanitarian crisis in and around Myanmar. The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has long had an interest in the country (historically called Burma) due to its population of Baptists (about 2 million) and the commitment to advocate for vulnerable populations everywhere.
The BWA was represented by Scott Stearman (UN BWA Representative), Roy Medley, and Van Kio (who lead the Burma Advocacy Group).
The conference highlighted the atrocities of the Myanmar Junta and how the genocide committed against the Rohingya population caused throngs of Burmese citizens to flee to neighboring countries. There are currently over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which holds the world’s largest refugee camp. In addition, there are regular atrocities committed against Burmese people from other parts of the country, places where the population is largely Christian and in some cases predominantly Baptist. There are growing numbers of refugees fleeing the war-torn areas in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The Conference was held under the gavel of current UNGA President Annalena Baerbock who spoke passionately about the need for the global community to address the crisis. At the end of the meeting, she announced that an action plan based on the day’s work would be released in coming days. Messages were delivered by other UN personnel and member states as well as NGO/civil society leaders.
The Secretary General’s Chief of Staff, Earle Courtenay Rattray, told the attendees that at present funding for the refugees in Bangladesh will run out in December. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, shared that the World Food Program will halt its efforts in two months without more funding.
There was agreement among the speakers that the crisis was caused by the military government. Multiple member states called for more action to be taken against the Junta. Russia and Iran were exceptions and objected to any action against the internal affairs of a sovereign nation.
Representatives from the United States and United Kingdom announced new funding. The US Mission to the United Nations was represented by Charles Harder, Special Envoy for Best Future Generations, who in part said: “All nations, organizations, and private donors must step forward and share the burden by increasing their contributions. The scale and complexity of this crisis make it clear that no single country or entity can do it alone. To underscore the US commitment in saving lives and providing critical assistance where needed, today I am announcing our intenSt to provide more than $60 million in assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.”
This high-level UN meeting was followed by a Day of Action on October 1 organized by the Burma Advocacy Group and a coalition of Burmese women’s advocacy groups. The event was well attended by both the diplomatic community and civil society. The UN missions of Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom co-sponsored the event. UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews addressed the crowd, expressing appreciation for the greater visibility of the crisis and calling for ongoing international action.
Since the military coup in 2021, the BWA has been committed to stand together with the people of Myanmar. In collaboration with and support of the local Baptist conventions, the BWA hosted a Red Ribbon Solidarity Weekend calling global Baptists to prayer and advocacy. A BWA resolution was passed condemning the military coup’s dismantling of civil and religious freedoms, and BWAid has provided grants since the beginning of the coup to support displaced persons along the Myanmar/Thai border – most recently in response to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. To support the BWA’s continued advocacy for the people of Myanmar, donate at BaptistWorld.org/give.
