In brief
Myanmar is reeling from a catastrophic earthquake that has killed over 1,600 people and left more than 3,000 injured. Amidst the natural disaster, the military junta resumes airstrikes, raising concerns over aid distribution amidst ongoing civil conflict.
Aftershocks and airstrikes have compounded the devastation in Myanmar, where over the weekend, more than 1,600 people were confirmed dead and over 3,000 injured following the most severe earthquake to hit the country in over a century. In Mandalay, the country's second-largest city and near the quake's epicenter, an aftershock struck yesterday, causing further building collapses, including those that withstood the initial tremors. Rescue efforts are urgently underway, but hope wanes for the missing as the critical 72-hour survival window narrows.Complicating the crisis, Myanmar's military junta has initiated a relentless bombing campaign in regions already affected by a longstanding civil war, which has left almost 20 million people in dire need of shelter and food even before the earthquake hit. According to experts, this disaster may significantly alter the dynamics of the civil war, particularly empowering the Arakan Army, a formidable rebel group that has seized substantial territories in Rakhine State, potentially challenging military control over southern areas of the country.International aid is starting to flow into Myanmar, but skepticism remains regarding the junta’s ability to effectively distribute the relief. Former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Marciel, highlighted the military’s history of manipulating aid for its own objectives, igniting widespread concern about the plight of those needing immediate assistance in the disaster-stricken areas.
