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Aid organizations issued a warning on Tuesday that over 6.3 million individuals are in critical need of assistance in the regions most affected by recent seismic events, particularly around Mandalay.
“People are being forced to sleep outside, access to clean water is limited, and health services have been significantly disrupted,” stated the UN’s OCHA, appealing for greater support from the global community.
The latest aftershock, which occurred late Sunday, registered a magnitude of 4.4 on the Richter scale, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“This is instilling widespread fear in a community that is already traumatized, as well as among the responders,” remarked Nadia Khoury, IFRC Head of Delegation in Myanmar, during a statement from Yangon.
Widespread Impact
Despite a waning interest from the international community, families who have lost their homes continue to seek assistance in rebuilding, remarked Christina Powell from OCHA.
“The emergency for many is far from resolved – this adds another layer to the existing challenges that the people of Myanmar face,” commented Ms. Powell. “People express their fears of returning to their homes, concerned that they could collapse at any time due to ongoing aftershocks.”
In areas severely impacted such as Mandalay and Bago in southern Myanmar, communities are still grappling with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding that occurred last September, and the recent earthquakes have further exacerbated their struggles.
Reports indicate that the seismic events have resulted in damage to or the destruction of approximately 55,000 homes across the country, where a civil conflict has persisted since the military coup in February 2021.
In Mandalay, OCHA highlighted that local residents are stepping up to provide food and essential items to those still living on the streets or in community shelters. However, urgent needs for shelter, food, hygiene kits, and sanitation facilities remain, as noted by OCHA’s Tin Aung Thein.
“These people are already vulnerable and depend on daily wages for survival. Therefore, international support is crucial for their recovery,” he emphasized.
Over the past month, IFRC has been delivering essential aid – including access to safe drinking water, medical care, tarpaulins for temporary shelters, and essential items for women and children – reaching more than 110,000 individuals.
The organization has also transported 250 metric tons of supplies and has been distributing over 220,000 liters of safe drinking water every day in Myanmar. Despite these efforts, the $121 million appeal launched by IFRC remains only 15 percent funded.
The Right to Dignity
Ms. Powell urged the global community to increase support, emphasizing that people have a fundamental right to “live in safety and dignity.”
“A swift and substantial inflow of resources, alongside uninterrupted access to all communities, is essential to prevent further deterioration of the situation,” Ms. Powell insisted.
Source
news.un.org