On 28 March 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, a country going through a civil war and an already worsening humanitarian crisis under the military junta.
The earthquake was the most powerful earthquake to hit Myanmar in decades, causing widespread devastation across Mandalay and Sagaing regions, as well as in the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory. The military junta has made the response to the earthquake significantly more complex, contributing to the impact of the disaster. As of 10 April, the death toll has already exceeded 3,600, with more than 5,000 injured and about 160 still missing, and these number are expected to grow considerably.
When the military junta staged the coup d’etat on 1st February 2021 against the officially elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the coup was immediately met by a wide range of anti-coup movements. In the face of nationwide armed resistance movements, the military junta currently controls less than a quarter of Myanmar’s territory. In quake-affected regions, although the military junta still retains authority over Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory and much of the Mandalay city area, northern Mandalay Region has largely come under the control of resistance forces. Similarly, in Sagaing Region which was severely affected by the earthquake, urban areas remain under the military’s control, while rural areas are administered or heavily influenced by resistance actors.
Here are seven ways in which the military junta has complicated humanitarian efforts.
1. Limitations on rescue efforts in 72-hours golden window
In the aftermath of the earthquake on 28 March, the military junta declared a state of emergency and asked for international assistance. Local rescue teams were supported by international rescue teams from a number of countries, including Russia, China, India, Thailand and Bangladesh, who joined together to intensify rescue efforts in pulling out the survivors trapped inside the collapsed buildings, in the first few hours after the earthquake.
Despite the collaboration between international and local rescue teams, help did not reach the worst-hit areas. There was a lack of coordination for the rescue efforts with no leadership or guidance provided by authorities. Significantly, lack of state funding for the emergency response and disaster relief plans triggered challenges for rapid rescue efforts. In addition, lack of equipment for the rescue work also hindered the process. Local rescue volunteer teams had to pry out survivors trapped under the rubble without any equipment. They had to manually listen to and follow the signals made by survivors trapped inside, and then had to use their bare hands, crawled through collapsed buildings with no safety equipment. With the golden window now closed and the operation moving into relief and recovery, more dead bodies than survivors are being recovered, and the smell of decaying bodies fills the air in Sagaing region.
2. Blockage of humanitarian aid by the military junta
There is an urgent need for shelter, food, water and medical care for earthquake affected victims. Meanwhile, the military junta has been accused of blocking aid for earthquake victims, especially from war-torn areas in Sagaing region, where the majority of local population do not support them. Although the military junta no longer exercises full control in some earthquake-affected areas across Sagaing and Mandalay Regions, aid can only be delivered to these areas with their co-operation.
Since the earthquake, many people in the affected area have been sleeping in the streets or open spaces, either because their homes were collapsed or they’re scared of the threat of aftershocks while enduring temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius. However, on the other hand, the junta has been hindering relief efforts by investigating aid workers, stopping, and extorting them at military checkpoints, and also requiring the humanitarian workers to obtain a permission to enter, especially in the Sagaing Region. The junta also confiscated food supplies being transported from Mandalay into the Sagaing region, and fired shots at Chinese aid convoy delivering aid to survivors of the earthquake, further obstructing the delivery of much-needed assistance to those affected.
3. The collapse of healthcare system
The limitations on relief efforts after an earthquake has been further worsened by Myanmar’s collapsing health system, which has been under attack and systematically targeted by the military junta since February 2021. More than 80% of the medical staff have participated in the civil disobedience movement (CDM) and refused to work for the military. Many of them are serving as the frontliners in areas controlled by resistance forces. In addition to severe oppressions towards doctors and medical staff who participated in the CDM, the military junta has forcefully shut down private hospitals for employing CDM medical staff, including in Mandalay region. Even in the wake of the earthquake, when public hospitals overwhelmed and no longer able to accommodate earthquake victims and survivors, the junta has not given permission for the private hospitals to be reopened. This further exacerbates the already dire healthcare situation in times of emergency.
4. Lack of youth force
A critical shortage of youth labour has further hindered the delivery of rapid relief efforts in Myanmar. Myanmar traditionally relies on youth-led volunteerism during crises. However, in the aftermath of the coup, many young people have been imprisoned or killed for opposing the military regime, while many serve on the front lines of armed resistance. Furthermore, the Conscription Law has driven many young people to flee outside of the country or refuge in neighboring countries to escape the forceful recruitment into Myanmar’s military. These factors have severely diminished the presence of youth volunteers during emergencies.
5. Continued atrocities, airstrikes bombings and human rights violations
A few hours after the earthquake, the military junta continued its airstrike bombings, targeting major areas in the Sagaing Region that were already affected by the disaster. These attacks, which included 92 airstrikes and artillery strikes, resulted in the fatalities of 72 civilians. On the other hand, the resistance forces declared a ceasefire in order to support the humanitarian response to the earthquake, allowing only self-defence actions. It was only after the resistance forces made their ceasefire announcement that the military junta declared a 20-day ceasefire on 2 April. Furthermore, the military junta also pushed the forceful recruitment of young people through the Conscription Law despite the earthquake situation as noted by UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews.
6. Internet shutdowns and social media blockage
The ongoing internet shutdowns imposed by the military junta are significantly hindering earthquake relief and rescue efforts in Myanmar. Despite the urgency of the humanitarian crisis, internet access has not been restored in the Sagaing Region where internet had been cut off way before the earthquake. The lack of connectivity has emerged as a critical obstacle which limits information about what is happening and for coordinating aid operations. Furthermore, access to major social media platforms remains restricted, with the use of VPNs required to bypass these blocks. These social media platforms are used as main channels for disseminating real-time updates and mobilizing assistance. In addition, the military junta has banned entry of foreign media seeking to cover the earthquake-devastated areas, which further restrict transparency and access to on-the-ground real situation.
7. Relief aid passing through the military-controlled channels
Foreign aid has reached Myanmar from several countries. Despite the junta lacking legitimacy as the government, they still control access for international rescue teams and aid organizations entering the country to assist earthquake victims and they require all relief to be channeled through Nay Pyi Taw. However, civil society groups in Myanmar have urged that aid should not be channeled through the junta, due to its past record of exploiting humanitarian assistance, and that donors must ensure that aid is delivered transparently, bypassing the military.
Support earthquake victims of Myanmar
People are in need of food, water, shelters and medical care. Now, Myanmar people need your support more than ever. While civilians have been acting together to bring aid to earthquake victims, you can participate in this people-to-people support through your donations.
The National Unity Government has been providing humanitarian aid in quake-affected areas which are controlled by the resistance forces. The NUG representative in the UK has set up a GoFundMe campaign which will directly support the earthquake victims in war-torn areas of Sagaing region controlled by the resistance forces.
Note: we have withheld the name of the author so as to protect themselves and their family.
