BANGKOK (AP) A month after Myanmar experienced a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28, hundreds of thousands of survivors are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The situation has been worsened by ongoing military airstrikes that have reportedly occurred despite ceasefires announced to support relief efforts amidst the country's ongoing civil war. The earthquake has deeply affected six regions and states, including Naypyitaw, the capital.
The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology announced on Monday that there have been 157 aftershocks since the initial quake, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5. State-run MRTV television reported that the death toll from the earthquake has tragically risen to 3,769, with 5,106 people injured and 107 individuals still missing. Many areas are currently without power and communications, leading to severe challenges in recovery. Infrastructure including roads and bridges has been heavily damaged, and tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed.
In the aftermath, some bereaved families have engaged in a Buddhist tradition by offering donations to monks as a way to transfer merit and blessings to deceased loved ones. However, amidst the ongoing recovery efforts, military airstrikes have continued, with a report from the Myanmar Witness project revealing 80 post-quake airstrikes by the military across various regions. Notably, 65 of these strikes occurred after the military declared its unilateral ceasefire on April 2, which was meant to facilitate humanitarian assistance.
The turmoil in Myanmar has been exacerbated since the military's 2021 coup, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This triggering widespread protests resulted in armed resistance, with pro-democracy activists and ethnic guerrilla groups joining forces to fight against the military government. Robert Dolan, director of the Myanmar Witness project, expressed concern that the population, already suffering from years of military aggression and conflict, now faces additional layers of hardship due to the earthquake and relentless airstrikes.
The shadow National Unity Government, which opposes military rule, reported that recent bombings have primarily targeted civilian areas, including markets, residential neighborhoods, Buddhist monasteries, and Christian churches. This has resulted in the deaths of over 200 civilians, including 24 children, during the period from March 28 to April 19, 2025. The military has not directly addressed these airstrikes but did indicate that they would respond to certain actions from resistance forces as necessary when extending their ceasefire on April 22.
Life for earthquake survivors remains dire, as U.N. agencies and other humanitarian organizations identify critical needs for safe shelter, clean water, sanitation, health care, protection services, and financial assistance. Before the earthquake, the ongoing civil war had already displaced over 3 million people and left nearly 20 million in need of aid. There is a pressing risk of diseases spreading due to poor sanitation and stagnant water, especially as many individuals are still living in makeshift tents with minimal protection from impending monsoon storms expected to begin in May.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies noted that those displaced by the earthquake are facing extreme temperatures, reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), while also fearing potential aftershocks. Reconstruction efforts have begun in Naypyitaw, with the demolished buildings of the labor and foreign ministries set for new construction. Municipal workers are cleaning debris from markets and schools, but thousands of people remain displaced and are living under tarpaulin sheets.
As recovery efforts continue amidst these challenges, many survivors are left with little to safeguard them from the elements, and concerns about their health and wellbeing remain paramount.
