To support Dunedin’s small Burmese community dealing with the tragic aftermath, the Ōtepoti Dunedin Myanmar Community hosted a candlelight vigil in the Octagon yesterday evening.
More than 3400 people have been killed, 4671 injured and 214 remain missing after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Southeast Asian country on March 28.
Burmese community member Su Dali Than said it was a devastating time for Dunedin residents from Myanmar.
One man’s family home had been destroyed in the earthquake and two of his nephews had been killed while they were praying in a mosque.
Others were still waiting to hear from family members who live close to the epicentre of the earthquake.
"There is uncertainty in the community.
"Everyone’s just a bit shaken and really just kind of devastated by the event."
The circumstances were made more difficult by the military junta weaponising the disaster by controlling aid to the country.
"Instead of helping the people, they're continuing to take advantage of the vulnerable people and attacking them using air strikes.
"That’s just another gut-wrenching action by the military."
The vigil showed the Dunedin Burmese community they had a support network, and people were sympathising with them and what they were going through, Ms Than said.
It did not feel like there was enough international sympathy and the Burmese community had a lot of gratitude for those from Dunedin showing their support.
The vigil included prayers from a variety of religious leaders, including Bishop Michael Dooley, Sikh community member Lucky Singh and Dhargyey Buddhist Centre member Peter Small.
Labour MP and a member of her party’s ethnic caucus Ingrid Leary and tangata whenua Andrew Rudolph also spoke at the event.
Dunedin Multi-Ethnic Council president Lux Selvanesan said the vigil was a way to recognise the pain members of Dunedin’s Burmese community were feeling.
"It's just about coming together to show the solidarity to each of them and respecting what they are going through."
