Survivors of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar are urgently calling for increased aid as the situation remains dire. As the death toll rises and the humanitarian crisis deepens, voices from within the country are pleading for an end to military operations against rebel forces.
A shallow 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday, resulting in widespread destruction and claiming the lives of over 2,800 individuals, while leaving countless others homeless. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in three houses has been obliterated, yet survivors are still reporting a significant lack of assistance.
Amidst the turmoil, several prominent armed groups have momentarily paused hostilities to aid recovery efforts. However, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has stated that military operations will continue, despite global calls for peace and reports of multiple air strikes against designated rebel strongholds. As UN agencies and human rights organizations emphasize, it is crucial for all parties to channel their energies into supporting those impacted by the earthquake, the most severe to hit Myanmar in decades.
Many residents, like 63-year-old Ayethi Kar, head of a school for young nuns that was completely destroyed, expressed their dire situation: “Of course, we don’t have enough,” she said. “Now we eat donated food and water, but we sleep on the ground.” The aftermath of the quake has left healthcare facilities overwhelmed and rapidly running out of essential supplies, such as food, water, and medicine.
While hopes of discovering more survivors are dwindling, moments of relief surfaced when two men were rescued from the rubble of a hotel in Naypyidaw. One of the rescuers, a 26-year-old hotel worker, was pulled from the debris by a collaborative Myanmar-Turkish rescue team. Dazed but alive, he was carefully extracted by firefighters who posted a video of the miracle on social media.
However, reports suggest that the death toll has now climbed to 2,886, with over 4,600 injured and 373 still unaccounted for. Due to fragmented communication channels and scarce infrastructure, the full extent of the disaster remains unclear, and the numbers may continue to rise. Relief efforts are further hampered by ongoing clashes between the military and various armed groups opposed to their rule, a conflict that escalated following the military coup in 2021.
In a statement that resonates with urgency, Julie Bishop, the UN’s special envoy on Myanmar, urged all factions to “focus their efforts on the protection of civilians, including aid workers, and the delivery of life-saving assistance.” Even prior to the calamity, an estimated 3.5 million individuals were displaced by ongoing violence, with many now facing the threat of hunger.
In a hopeful development, three of Myanmar’s significant ethnic armed groups announced a one-month ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian efforts in the quake’s aftermath. Following this, the People’s Defence Force—a coalition of civilian groups that took up arms—to another temporary truce. Yet, junta forces have continued military operations, citing “necessary defensive measures” in response to sabotage allegedly targeting the nation’s electricity supply.
UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has condemned the junta’s actions. He remarked, “Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has described ongoing junta attacks in the midst of Myanmar’s suffering as ‘necessary protective measures.’ They are neither necessary nor protective. They are outrageous and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by world leaders.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Australia’s government expressed concern over the military’s actions, declaring that these assaults only serve to amplify the suffering of the affected populace. Amnesty International noted that such “inhumane” military attacks are further complicating the already challenging earthquake relief efforts.
In a related and tragic development, the death toll from the collapse of a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, hundreds of kilometers away, has reached 22, with over 70 individuals still feared trapped in the wreckage as rescue operations persist.
In times like these, as the plight of the survivors becomes increasingly urgent, humanitarian responses must prioritize immediate and effective relief. As the situation continues to unfold, the global community is urged to lend their support to those in desperate need.
“You cannot ask for aid with one hand and bomb with the other.” These poignant words from Joe Freeman, a researcher for Amnesty International, serve as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of peace and humanitarian assistance.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
