Deadly earthquake in Myanmar leaves over 2,700 dead. survivors struggle to find food and shelter.
Aid efforts hindered by civil war
Myanmar’s military government, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, says the death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake has risen to at least 2,719. Over 4,500 people are injured, and 441 are missing.
The earthquake, one of the strongest to hit Myanmar in over a century, has destroyed buildings, ancient temples, and roads. It has also damaged infrastructure in Thailand’s Bangkok and China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
Humanitarian crisis unfolds
In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, 50 children and 2 teachers died when their school collapsed. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) confirms the tragedy.
Survivors in the hardest-hit areas, like Mandalay, are struggling to find basic necessities like clean water and sanitation. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to find people trapped under rubble and provide aid to those affected.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) emphasizes the need for shelter, food, water, and medical care in areas like Mandalay, where people are forced to sleep outdoors due to fear of aftershocks.
Myanmar’s civil war, which began when the military seized power from the elected government in 2021, is complicating aid efforts. Amnesty International urges the military government to allow aid to reach all areas of the country, regardless of who controls them.
However, the military’s strict control over communication networks, damaged roads, and infrastructure are making it difficult for aid organizations to reach those in need. Reports suggest the military is still launching air attacks on opposition strongholds, despite the national disaster.
Source: cna