Rescue efforts from Myanmar’s deadly earthquake are winding down as the death toll surpasses 3,600, with over 17 million people affected by the disaster. The situation report issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that more than 17 million people urgently need food, water, healthcare, cash assistance, and emergency shelter.
In Naypyitaw, the capital city, debris-clearing efforts continued despite drizzling rain, while soldiers removed wreckage from Buddhist monasteries. The Myanmar Fire Services Department reported recovering 10 bodies from a collapsed building in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.
The 7.7-magnitude quake caused significant damage to six regions and states, leaving many areas without power or communication services. Search and rescue operations involved personnel from 20 countries and found and extracted 653 survivors.
However, the Myanmar military government faces accusations from its opponents over alleged ceasefire violations. Reports of continued fighting are widespread, with the army under criticism for aerial bombing.
As relief efforts intensify, concerns about the living conditions of those affected by the disaster grow. The UN report noted that entire communities have been upended, forcing people to seek shelter in makeshift conditions, disrupting markets, and worsening psychosocial distress.
The situation remains dire, with many people exposed to extreme heat during the country’s hottest month and facing additional threats from rains in Mandalay.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-ceasefire-military-resistance-earthquake-disaster-05329d5a2448d0afd9d7c09e55a1c759