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The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has risen to 3,354, with 4,850 people reported injured and 220 still missing, according to local media. The tragedy has compounded the already dire situation in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since the military junta overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021.
The earthquake, which struck near Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, further strained the military government’s already faltering control over the country. The military junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has faced widespread criticism for its inability to govern effectively since the coup, leaving the economy and basic services in ruins.
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In addition to the casualties, the quake has intensified Myanmar’s existing humanitarian crisis, with millions already displaced by the ongoing civil war and widespread food insecurity affecting the population. More than a third of the country’s people are in need of urgent humanitarian aid, as reported by the United Nations.
UN Aid Chief Praises Humanitarian Efforts
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher visited Mandalay and praised the efforts of humanitarian and community groups who have been leading the response to the earthquake. Fletcher acknowledged the courage and determination of local groups who, despite suffering personal losses, continued to support survivors and deliver aid.
“Many themselves lost everything, and yet kept heading out to support survivors,” Fletcher wrote in a post on social media. His words highlighted the immense challenges faced by aid workers operating in a war zone, where the junta has restricted access to certain areas controlled by opposition groups.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights also reported that the military junta has been restricting aid supplies to quake-hit areas where communities oppose its rule. The UN is investigating numerous attacks by the junta against opposition groups, including airstrikes, with some incidents occurring even after the declaration of a ceasefire on Wednesday.
International Calls for Ceasefire and Inclusive Elections
In the wake of the earthquake, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing returned to Myanmar after attending a summit in Bangkok with leaders from Southeast Asia. During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hlaing reaffirmed the junta’s commitment to holding “free and fair” elections in December, a move widely criticized by international observers who see the planned election as a means for the military to solidify its grip on power.
Modi, who called for a permanent ceasefire to be implemented in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, also stressed the importance of holding “inclusive and credible” elections. However, critics of the military junta have dismissed the planned elections as a sham designed to maintain the generals’ dominance, with many pointing to the continued violence and displacement as evidence of the junta’s failure to govern.
Myanmar’s Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Since the coup, Myanmar has struggled under the weight of a prolonged civil war, with more than 3 million people displaced and vast regions experiencing severe food shortages. The UN has reported that more than a third of Myanmar’s population now requires humanitarian assistance, and the devastation caused by the earthquake has only deepened the crisis.
As the junta continues to restrict aid and launch airstrikes on opposition forces, international organizations and humanitarian groups are grappling with the immense difficulty of providing aid to those in need. The earthquake has underscored the urgency of addressing Myanmar’s multifaceted crisis, which is driven by both natural disasters and ongoing political instability.
