The United Nations human rights office has reported that Myanmar’s military is restricting humanitarian aid in various regions affected by recent earthquakes.
Following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which has claimed the lives of over 3,000 people, it is estimated that up to three million individuals may have been impacted, with many rendered homeless as their residences were destroyed. Indeed, as Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated, the situations in these areas are “catastrophic,” particularly in regions that remain beyond the military’s control.
While numerous nations have mobilized aid and sent rescue teams, there appears to be a stark absence of assistance from Myanmar’s ruling military in some of the hardest-hit areas. Reports indicate that, despite a declared temporary ceasefire on April 2, there have been at least 14 military attacks in the aftermath of this natural disaster.
Amid these troubling circumstances, protests erupted as General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, attended a regional summit in Bangkok just a week after the earthquake. Demonstrators displayed banners labeling him a “murderer,” highlighting widespread anger over his leadership amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Current reports indicate that the death toll has reached 3,145, with over 4,500 individuals injured and 221 still unaccounted for. In Sagaing, which is near the earthquake’s epicenter, approximately 80% of buildings have suffered damage. Journalists from AFP have witnessed heart-wrenching scenes as hungry and exhausted survivors compete for essential supplies.
In response to the devastation, courageous citizen volunteers from across Myanmar have converged on Sagaing, bringing trucks loaded with water, rice, and other vital resources. Many survivors, unable to return to their damaged homes, are now forced to sleep on the streets, desperately needing shelter. A desolate patch of land in Mandalay has become a temporary tent city where those displaced by the earthquake convene.
Hla Myint Po, a cab driver now living in tents with his family, shared, “There are many people who are in need. Sometimes when donors bring things it’s chaos.” While the community grapples with this ongoing crisis, General Min Aung Hlaing has recently dined in luxury at the Shangri-La hotel, mingling with other leaders from the BIMSTEC group.
Since seizing power in a coup in 2021, Min Aung Hlaing has faced accusations of human rights abuses, including war crimes, particularly against the Rohingya community. Although he is under multiple global sanctions, he continues to advocate for regional relationships, as evidenced by his attendance at the Bangkok summit, which marked his first foreign trip since the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has sought an arrest warrant for the junta leader due to alleged crimes against humanity. Despite the suffering experienced by Myanmar’s people, recent airstrikes against rebel groups by the military have drawn sharp international condemnation.
As the summit unfolded, the National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s shadow opposition, condemned Min Aung Hlaing’s participation, deeming it an affront to justice amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis. They expressed concern that engaging with the junta risks legitimizing an illegal regime.
Yadanar Maung from the Justice for Myanmar campaign group remarked on the situation: “It is deplorable that Thailand and BIMSTEC welcomed him.”
Despite being ostracized and sanctioned by numerous Western nations, the junta continues to seek support from close allies like China and Russia as it navigates a complicated civil war.
Following the earthquake, several armed groups declared a temporary ceasefire to facilitate aid distribution, while the military also expressed similar commitments. However, all parties involved continue to assert their right to defend themselves, with reports of sporadic clashes persisting.
The “Quad Partners” comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States welcomed recent commitments to these temporary ceasefires, raising hopes for a degree of stability amidst the turmoil.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
