BANGKOK (AP) – Two months after a devastating earthquake struck central and northeastern Myanmar, the recovery process is progressing slowly, with many individuals forced to live in temporary shelters amidst the challenges posed by the monsoon season's heavy rainfall and strong winds. The earthquake, which occurred on March 28, 2023, registered a magnitude of 7.7, resulting in widespread destruction across six regions and states, notably impacting Naypyitaw, the capital, and Mandalay, the nation's second-largest city.
As reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, the confirmed death toll has reached 3,740, while injuries have totaled 5,104. The grim recovery efforts continue, as the task of locating and recovering the deceased remains ongoing. In recent updates, the Myanmar Fire Services Department announced that teams recovered four more bodies from the debris of the Sky Villa Condominium in Mandalay. To date, over 100 bodies have been retrieved from the collapsed building site, with more believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, according to a representative from the Myanmar Rescue Federation (Mandalay), who requested anonymity due to fears of arrest for unauthorized comments.
The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar has escalated to unprecedented levels, with an alarming 19.9 million people identified as in need of assistance. Following the quake, an additional 2 million individuals are in urgent need of help, as highlighted in a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on May 23, 2023. The country has been embroiled in turmoil since the military coup in 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. This political upheaval sparked widespread protests, escalating into an ongoing civil conflict that has exacerbated the existing humanitarian challenges.
According to OCHA, Myanmar continues to face severe humanitarian issues rooted in recurring disasters, ongoing conflict, and critical protection risks. The conflict has led to the displacement of approximately 3.5 million people within the country. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military government, reported at a disaster relief fundraising ceremony that the earthquake impacted more than 500,000 individuals across 2,081 villages. The natural disaster also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with hundreds of roads and bridges destroyed and over 700 hospitals and clinics affected to varying degrees.
As recovery efforts continue, shelter remains a significant concern for survivors. Many individuals have left temporary camps but are returning to inadequate accommodations on the sites where their homes once stood. Aung Kyaw, a supervisor overseeing recovery activities in Hmike Su ward in Mandalay's Amarapura township, revealed that more than 150 residents are still living in roadside shelters made of tarpaulin. He reported that these individuals are struggling against heavy rains and strong winds, urgently requiring metal roofing for proper shelter. Aung Kyaw expressed his desire for basic safety, stating, “I need iron sheets for a roof to build a shelter on my land. I would be satisfied just to be able to safely sleep at my house.”
The impending monsoon season raises further concerns, as floods may pose additional risks to those residing in temporary shelters. In Naypyitaw, government personnel have relocated to low-cost prefabricated buildings constructed near the central railway station while the debris from damaged state housing is still being cleared. In other affected neighborhoods, residents have managed to clear debris on their own, yet many are still living in tents as permanent housing solutions remain elusive.
