Over the weekend, parts of earthquake-stricken Myanmar experienced rainfall, a development that aid organizations warn may complicate relief efforts and heighten the risk of disease. The United Nations aid chief has emphasized the urgent need for additional tents to provide shelter for those displaced by the disaster.
As reported by state media, the death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck on March 28 has tragically risen to 3,471, with 4,671 individuals injured and another 214 still unaccounted for.
Aid agencies have expressed concern that the unseasonable rains combined with extreme temperatures could lead to the spread of diseases, including cholera, among survivors who find themselves in temporary camps exposed to the elements. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher poignantly captured the gravity of the situation: “Families sleeping outside the ruins of their homes while bodies of loved ones are pulled from rubble. Real fear of more quakes,” he shared on X.
Myanmar’s neighboring countries, including China, India, and several Southeast Asian nations, have actively sent relief supplies and rescue teams over the past week to support recovery efforts in areas housing approximately 28 million residents affected by the earthquake.
The United States, historically recognized as a significant humanitarian donor, has committed at least $9 million to assist communities impacted by the earthquake in Myanmar. However, current and former U.S. officials have indicated that recent changes to the foreign aid program have hampered its overall response capacity.
Marcia Wong, a former senior USAID official, noted how the recent termination of three Agency for International Development workers who had traveled to Myanmar following the quake could affect morale. “This team is working incredibly hard, focused on getting humanitarian aid to those in need. To get news of your imminent termination – how can that not be demoralizing?” she remarked.
In neighboring Thailand, authorities have reported that the country’s death toll from the earthquake has risen to 24. Seventeen of these fatalities occurred at the site of a skyscraper in Bangkok, which collapsed during construction. Additionally, 77 individuals remain missing.
The ongoing political landscape in Myanmar remains tumultuous. Since the military coup that ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, governance has deteriorated, leaving the economy and essential services, particularly healthcare, in shambles—an impact further worsened by the earthquake.
The civil conflict that ensued has forcibly displaced over three million people, leading to widespread food insecurity, with more than a third of the population currently in need of humanitarian assistance, as stated by the UN.
While a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported on Friday that the military junta continues to restrict aid in regions that do not support its rule. The Office has also initiated investigations into reported assaults against dissenters by the junta, including incidents occurring after the ceasefire.
Unfortunately, there has been no response from a junta spokesperson regarding these developments. Meanwhile, the relief group Free Burma Rangers reported on Thursday and Friday that the military dropped bombs in Karenni and Shan states, killing at least five individuals, including civilians, as outlined by the group’s founder, David Eubank. He noted that there have been at least seven military attacks since the announcement of the ceasefire.
In the face of such turmoil and tragedy, the resilience of the affected communities and the dedication of aid workers echo the words of humanitarian leaders everywhere: “In times of crisis, our shared humanity binds us together.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
