On June 5, Myanmar refugee Esera Maung was excited to welcome to Australia her cousin, cousin’s husband and three nieces, having been able to access a micro loan from the BUV’s Refugee Airfare and Assistance Loan Scheme (RAALS).
“I would like to thank BUV for this amazing support in such a difficult time and we hope that this program would help other families too,” Esera said.
Paw Law Eh’s family were granted Australian visas last year after more than 40 years living in refugee camps on the border between Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). They had been cruelly ousted from their village by the junta (Myanmar militia) along with hundreds of thousands of Karen people – an ethno-linguistic group from southern Myanmar. The junta have ruled with violence since 2021 when they overthrew the democratically-elected government. This coup marks just one event in the world’s longest ongoing civil war, spanning several decades.
Esera’s cousin and nieces were all born in the refugee camp and knew no other life. Fear, uncertainty and despair are part of daily life in the camps. There is often no electricity, running water, medical supplies or resources for education. “Some days they could hear the gun shots from across the Thai-Burma border, and they saw Karen refugees fleeing Burma to enter the camp every day to seek shelter. With the current situation the family had no hope to return to Burma, and living in the refugee camp made it harder because, currently, foreign aid to supply food and other needs are reduced.”
Esera moved to Australia 15 years ago. Paw Law Eh’s family only recently received visas, but these can expire if people have no way to buy airfares. RAALS was set up in 2004 so that a refugee who is already settled in Australia can apply for a no-interest airfare loan on behalf of refugee relatives still in their homeland country who hold a valid visa. Loans are guaranteed by the family in Australia and are then repaid in instalments. When repaid in full, the funds return to the scheme and can be used again by the BUV to provide for another refugee. Over the past 20 years, more than 670 loans have been provided, totaling around $550,000.
Within the BUV, 56 (16%) of our church congregations originate from different ethnic groups within Myanmar. These churches are both supporting their local congregation members, and their families and communities back in Myanmar, and the BUV has had a focus on standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters facing this ongoing hardship, through our Stand with Myanmar initiatives.
For more details on RAALS or to donate, visit RAALS