Heavy rains over the weekend have further complicated relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Myanmar, raising concerns among aid agencies about the risk of disease outbreaks. The powerful earthquake that struck on March 28 has already left thousands dead, injured, or missing, and now the added challenge of unseasonable rainfall could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
The death toll from the quake has now risen to 3,471, according to state media, with 4,671 people injured and 214 still missing. The United Nations (UN) and various aid agencies are warning that the combination of rain and extreme heat could lead to the spread of diseases, particularly cholera, among survivors who are forced to camp outdoors.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher, who visited the affected areas, expressed deep concern about the situation. “Families sleeping outside the ruins of their homes while bodies of loved ones are pulled from rubble. Real fear of more quakes,” he said in a post on social media. Fletcher emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, “We need to get tents and hope to survivors as they rebuild their shattered lives.” He also underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to save as many lives as possible.
Neighboring countries such as China, India, and several Southeast Asian nations have mobilized relief supplies and rescue teams to assist Myanmar’s recovery. Despite these efforts, the scale of the disaster remains daunting. The United States, which has been a major global donor in humanitarian crises, has pledged at least $9 million in aid to Myanmar. However, the ongoing reduction of the US foreign aid program has raised concerns. Marcia Wong, a former senior official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), pointed out that three USAID workers sent to Myanmar after the quake were informed they would be let go, a decision that has been demoralizing for the aid team.
In neighboring Thailand, the death toll has risen to 24, with 17 deaths reported at the site of a collapsed skyscraper in Bangkok. Authorities also confirmed that 77 people remain missing in the country.
Myanmar’s military junta, which has struggled to govern since seizing power in 2021, faces growing criticism for its handling of the disaster. The junta has been criticized for restricting aid in areas that oppose its rule, and ceasefire violations have been reported, despite a recent announcement of a truce. On Thursday and Friday, the military reportedly dropped bombs in Karenni and Shan states, killing at least five people, including civilians, according to the relief group Free Burma Rangers. The group also reported several other attacks by the military since the ceasefire was declared.
The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar, following the junta’s 2021 coup, has already displaced more than three million people, with widespread food insecurity affecting a third of the population. The earthquake has only compounded the country’s dire humanitarian situation, further straining the efforts of aid organizations working to assist those in need.
As the crisis deepens, the international community continues to call for stronger coordination and increased support to help Myanmar recover from this devastating disaster.
