The earthquake that occurred on Thursday, 28th March, has had a significant impact on Myanmar. The country's military junta has reported that the death toll stands at approximately 2,000, although it is anticipated that this figure may rise as rescue operations continue. The initial areas affected by the seismic event were Mandalay and Sagaing, but the repercussions have also been felt in Bago, Magway, Nay Pyi Taw, and parts of Shan State.
Despite the deployment of rescue teams from approximately 20 countries, the utilisation of sniffer dogs, and the allocation of $15 million in funds by the UN, hospitals are overwhelmed with a high volume of wounded patients who require adequate treatment. This situation is further exacerbated by the inoperability of many primary roads and the disruption to communication networks. The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced its intention to provide ready-to-eat meals, food, and cash-for-food assistance to approximately 900,000 individuals. On the other hand, U.S. aid has been severely reduced as a consequence of Trump’s cut of funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The natural problem has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the aftermath of the military coup of February 2021. As reported by Global Conflict Tracker, this coup was led by General Min Aung Hlaing as a response to the election results, which were believed to be fraudulent. Subsequently, the National Unity Government (NUG) was established in April 2021 by ousted officials, ethnic groups, and pro-democracy demonstrators. Shortly after, they joined forces with the People's Defense Force (PDF), a military alliance against the junta. The NUG's efforts have garnered support from ethnic rebel groups nationwide, among which there are the groups that formed the Three Brotherhood Alliance in October 2023.
The humanitarian crisis has been estimated to affect 20 million people in need of assistance, with 3.5 million people estimated to be displaced, and more than 75,000 deaths. Furthermore, the loss of authority over numerous regions, including the city of Mandalay, by the Junta has increased the challenges of bringing out a comprehensive and effective response plan. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the numbers of personnel that the junta could use to implement it was severely reduced due to a portion of the junta’s personnel joining the resistance. Consequently, the General has asked for help from the international community, changing its policy.
The UN’s Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator Marcoluigi Corsi stated that the UN Country Team will continue to provide aid and support to civilians, but he reaffirmed the necessity of implementing an emergency response plan that will also increase the measures to prevent future shocks. In light of the ongoing military operations, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop has issued a call to the involved parties, urging a cessation of military activities in order to prioritize the rescue of civilians.
