Myanmar Earthquake Relief Efforts Hindered by Medical Shortages
The United Nations warns that severe shortages of medical supplies are hindering relief efforts after a massive earthquake hit Myanmar, killing over 1,600 people. The quake’s impact is dire, with thousands in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the disaster’s severity requires immediate humanitarian assistance. However, the response is slowed by a lack of medical supplies, including first aid kits, blood bags, anesthesia, crucial medicines, and tents for health workers. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities are severely damaged or destroyed.
The earthquake has left widespread destruction, with many homes and critical infrastructure severely damaged. Thousands are forced to spend the night on the streets or in open areas due to damaged or destroyed homes. The city of Mandalay, Magway, and Naypyidaw are struggling to cope with the influx of injured people.
OCHA reports that several townships in southern Shan State have been affected, with a need for emergency shelter, clothing, blankets, and food. A convoy of 17 trucks from China carrying shelter and medical supplies is expected to arrive soon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched nearly three tons of medical supplies, including emergency first aid kits and multipurpose tents, from its emergency stockpile in Yangon to hospitals in Mandalay and Naypyidaw to treat thousands of injured people. The WHO’s Southeast Asia regional office emphasizes that timely aid is crucial for saving lives.
Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), says that Red Cross teams in Myanmar are racing against time to provide survivors with pre-hospital care and distribute emergency shelter items.
Marie Manrique, IFRC’s head of delegation in Myanmar, notes that the death toll and number of injured are rising, and apart from infrastructure damage, many homes have been destroyed. “We need to start thinking seriously about what will happen to these people and their long-term shelter needs.”
Sources:
- Ayling, J. (2023, March 29). Humanitarian operation in Myanmar hindered by damaged roads and infrastructure, says UN agency. The Straits Times.