BANGKOK (AP) — Search teams in Myanmar have been recovering more bodies from the rubble following a massive earthquake that struck on March 28, killing over 3,100 people. This disaster has exacerbated the urgent humanitarian crisis in a country that is already grappling with an ongoing civil war. The United Nations has raised alarms about the dire needs of the affected population as recovery efforts commence.
On Friday, United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, who also serves as the emergency relief coordinator, visited the impacted areas to spur action in the aftermath of the quake. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to significantly increase funding for earthquake victims to address the scale of this crisis, emphasizing the importance of unhindered access to humanitarian aid for those in need. Guterres highlighted the urgency of the situation as the monsoon season approaches, which could further complicate recovery efforts.
In response to the earthquake, Myanmar's military and several key armed resistance groups declared ceasefires to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid. However, the U.N. Human Rights Office reported on Friday that the military has continued its attacks, with over 60 assaults documented since the quake, including 16 occurring after the announcement of a temporary ceasefire. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for a halt to all military operations, urging a focus on assisting those impacted by the disaster and ensuring access for humanitarian organizations ready to provide support. Türk expressed hope that this tragedy could become a turning point for Myanmar towards an inclusive political solution.
The military's ceasefire announcement included a stipulation that they would still take necessary measures against resistance groups that might use the reprieve to regroup or launch attacks. The resistance groups have stated their intent to defend themselves. Since the military's seizure of power in 2021 from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war, further complicating efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis.
The earthquake has intensified an already critical humanitarian situation, with over 3 million individuals displaced and nearly 20 million people requiring assistance even before the disaster struck, according to U.N. estimates. Myanmar authorities reported that as of Thursday, 3,145 people have died, with 4,589 injured and 221 still missing. No immediate updates on these figures were provided on Friday.
The U.K. government announced an additional $6.5 million in aid to supplement the $13 million already committed for emergency supplies like food, water, and shelter for the victims. The World Food Program reported reaching 24,000 survivors thus far but is scaling up efforts to provide food and cash assistance to 850,000 people for one month.
International search and rescue teams from several nations are actively working at the scene, with eight medical crews from China, Thailand, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Russia deployed in Naypyitaw. Five more teams from India, Russia, Laos, Nepal, and Singapore are aiding in the Mandalay region, while additional assistance is being provided by teams from Russia, Malaysia, and the ASEAN nations in the Sagaing region. The Trump administration announced $2 million in emergency aid and dispatched a three-person team to evaluate the optimal aid response, taking into consideration significant cuts to U.S. foreign assistance.
On Friday, recovery efforts continued with the retrieval of five bodies from the rubble in Naypyitaw and Mandalay, near the epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake. The last known rescue operation occurred on Wednesday, approximately 125 hours after the quake struck, when a man was saved from a hotel collapse in Mandalay. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Thailand, where a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok collapsed, leading to additional casualties with 22 dead and 35 injured primarily associated with the construction site.
