Myanmar’s military junta has intensified air strikes in conflict-ridden regions, even as the country grapples with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that has claimed over 1,600 lives. The United Nations has condemned the attacks as “completely outrageous and unacceptable.”
According to UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, the military’s decision to continue aerial bombardments while rescue operations are underway is “nothing short of incredible.” He urged the junta to halt all military operations and called upon influential parties to pressure the regime into compliance.
On the day of the earthquake, which struck the Sagaing region with a magnitude of 7.7, Myanmar’s military launched an air strike in Naungcho, northern Shan State, killing at least seven people. Reports indicate that further bombings occurred in Chang-U township and near the Thai border, both areas severely impacted by the disaster.
The National Unity Government (NUG), which represents the ousted civilian administration, has announced a two-week pause in offensive military operations in affected regions, allowing rescue efforts to proceed. However, the junta has made no such commitment and continues its aerial campaign against resistance groups.
The earthquake’s devastation extends beyond Sagaing, affecting Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Many survivors remain trapped under rubble, yet rescue efforts face immense challenges due to ongoing military attacks.
Four years of civil war have left Myanmar deeply fractured. Following the 2021 coup, nationwide protests escalated into armed resistance, with ethnic and pro-democracy rebel groups controlling large portions of the country. A recent BBC investigation revealed that the junta controls less than 25% of Myanmar’s territory, relying on air power to maintain dominance.
Despite UN calls for an arms embargo, Russia and China continue to supply the junta with advanced weaponry. Both nations have sent aid to Myanmar in the wake of the earthquake, but activists argue their support is contradictory given their role in arming the regime.
The junta has historically restricted humanitarian aid to areas outside its control. The UN fears a repeat of past disasters where military authorities blocked relief efforts and arrested aid workers, weaponizing aid distribution as a tool of war.
As Myanmar endures both natural and man-made devastation, global pressure is mounting for an end to military aggression and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need.
