Bangkok: Over the weekend, rain fell in parts of Myanmar hit by earthquakes, which aid agencies say could complicate relief efforts and increase the risk of disease as UN aid chief said more tents were needed to shelter those homeless.
State media reported that the death toll from the powerful earthquake on March 28 rose to 3,471, with 4,671 injured and 214 missing.
The aid agency warns that the combination of unreasonable rainfall, including cholera, and extreme heat, among open camping earthquake survivors, could lead to disease outbreaks.
“The bodies of loved ones pulled out of rubble, while the bodies of loved ones sleep outside the ruins of the house. Really worried about the earthquake,” said Tom Fletcher, head of visiting the United Nations aid.
“We need to rebuild the broken life with tents and hope survivors,” he said.
Myanmar’s neighbors, such as China, India and Southeast Asian countries, are neighbors that have sent rescue supplies and rescue workers over the past week to help restore work in earthquake areas where about 28 million people are located.
Until recently, the U.S. has promised Myanmar at least $9 million to support earthquake-affected communities, but current and former U.S. officials say the demolition of its foreign aid program has affected its response.
Marcia Wong, a former senior U.S. Agency for International Development, told three U.S. agencies that they were told they were liberalizing Myanmar. Reuters.
“This team is working hard to focus on providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. To get news of the imminent termination – how can that be frustrated?” Huang said.
In neighbouring Thailand, authorities said the death toll from the country in the earthquake increased to 24. 17 of them died at the site of the capital Bangkok skyscraper, which collapsed during construction. There are 77 missing out there.
Ceasefire vulnerability
The Burmese military has been working to run the country since the 2021 overthrow of Nobel Prize-winning Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, making the economy and essential services, including health care, worsen the earthquake in a tragedy.
The United Nations said the subsequent civil war displaced more than three million people, food was insecure, and more than one-third of the population needed humanitarian assistance.
Although a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s Office said Friday that the military government has restricted aid in areas that do not support its rule. It also said it is investigating reported attacks by the junta on its opponents, including after the ceasefire.
A government spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comments.
Relief group free Myanmar Rangers tell Reuters On Saturday, despite a ceasefire, the military dropped bombs on Thursday and Friday, killing at least five people.
David Eubank, the founder of the group, said the victims included civilians, who said at least seven such military attacks have occurred since the ceasefire.
