A series of powerful earthquakes that struck Myanmar on Friday, registering magnitudes of 7.7 and 6.4, have left a trail of devastation, compounding an already dire crisis in the country. The death toll has risen to around 2,000, according to the military junta, with widespread injuries and many people still unaccounted for. Humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations (UN), have expressed their profound sorrow over the immense loss of life and are mobilizing urgent support for the emergency response.
The UN’s Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, Marcoluigi Corsi, emphasized that the disaster has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people were already in need of assistance due to the ongoing civil conflict that erupted after the military coup of February 2021. With millions of displaced people and significant challenges posed by the ongoing civil war, the earthquake has further eroded the resilience of local communities.
Efforts to provide relief are underway, with rescue teams from around 20 countries, including sniffer dogs and medical personnel, arriving in the country. The UN has allocated $15 million in emergency funds to support life-saving operations, providing essential medical teams, shelter materials, and sanitation supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) is aiming to provide immediate food assistance to 100,000 people, followed by ongoing support for 800,000 others.
The earthquake’s impact was felt across the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, with additional effects in Bago, Magway, Nay Pyi Taw, and Shan State. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and transportation and communication routes have been severely disrupted, leaving thousands of people to sleep in the open, fearful of aftershocks and unable to return to their homes.
UN Special Envoy Julie Bishop highlighted the urgent need for sustained international attention and called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. She stressed that continued military operations in the affected regions risk further loss of life and impede the critical relief efforts.
As Myanmar grapples with this new tragedy, global support is vital to prevent further deterioration of the crisis and aid recovery efforts.
