Indiana diocese strained by upsurge in number of Burmese refugees

Published: 2007-10-09

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (CNS) -- The country of Myanmar -- formerly called Burma -- is attracting international attention as the military government there has used violent means to disperse peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators. Burmese people are in the news in Fort Wayne, too. About 3,000 Burmese refugees now live in the city. The upsurge in the local Burmese population prompted Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan to declare that her department will have to start charging for previously free services because of the unusually large number of Burmese refugees this year. Catholic Charities settled about 200 Burmese refugees in Fort Wayne in 2006, according to Debbie Schmidt, executive director of the agency of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. The agency was told to expect another 200 in 2007, and by June had received 35. After June, however, the numbers increased quickly and dramatically, with an additional 524 refugees arriving by the end of September. Another 130 are expected before the end of the year, bringing the projected 2007 total to nearly 700 -- close to the total of 768 Burmese refugees settled by Catholic Charities in 1991-2006.

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