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Myanmar Earthquake Aftermath: Junta Accused of Blocking Lifesaving Aid as Death Toll Mounts
A catastrophic earthquake that struck Myanmar has claimed thousands of lives, and in the critical 72 hours following the seismic event, humanitarian aid has been reportedly hampered by the military junta. Despite an initial appeal for international assistance, multiple aid organizations and human rights groups have stated that access to the hardest-hit regions was obstructed by military authorities, hindering urgent relief efforts in the wake of the devastating Myanmar earthquake.
Golden Window for Rescue Efforts Closes Amidst Access Restrictions
The 72-hour “golden window,” crucial for rescuing individuals trapped in collapsed structures after an earthquake, has passed. During this vital period, rescue and relief personnel seeking to reach areas severely impacted by the 7.7 magnitude tremor on Friday encountered significant roadblocks. Aid organizations report that military checkpoints and curfews imposed by the junta impeded the swift deployment of essential assistance.
John Quinley, director at Fortify Rights, an international human rights organization, conveyed to the BBC accounts from individuals involved in rescue operations in Sagaing and Mandalay. These individuals described stringent curfews, road closures, and protracted checkpoint procedures. According to Quinley, the extensive inspections of incoming goods and supplies, coupled with excessive questioning, significantly delayed the arrival of much-needed aid. He suggested that easing access for rescue teams would have been significantly more effective, dismissing the junta’s stated “safety reasons” as disingenuous.
Junta’s Plea for Aid Contradicts On-Ground Reality
The obstruction of aid comes despite junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s public request for international humanitarian support. In a speech delivered shortly after the disaster, Hlaing proclaimed that “all ways for foreign aid” were open, inviting nations and organizations to provide assistance. However, the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture, with aid groups facing substantial obstacles.
Attack on Aid Convoy Raises Further Alarm
Adding to the concerns, an assault on an aid convoy on Tuesday night further jeopardized relief operations. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a resistance group in Shan State, reported that a convoy of nine vehicles from the Chinese Red Cross Society, transporting earthquake relief supplies, was attacked by military forces. The TNLA stated that soldiers using machine guns fired upon the convoy en route to Mandalay, forcing it to retreat.
A junta spokesperson confirmed the incident, asserting that soldiers fired warning shots at the vehicles because they had not been informed of the convoy’s passage and the convoy failed to stop. However, Mr. Quinley pointed out that this incident is consistent with a pattern of the junta targeting aid workers.
Systematic Hindrance of Humanitarian Assistance
Mr. Quinley elaborated on the junta’s history of selectively permitting aid, often contingent on their ability to control and monitor its distribution. He asserted that the junta actively targets humanitarian workers and restricts aid if they cannot directly oversee or manipulate its use. This practice aligns with the junta’s broader strategy of weaponizing humanitarian assistance, particularly in regions outside their direct control, a tactic observed throughout the ongoing civil conflict since their 2021 coup.
Analysis indicates that the military junta exerts full control over a limited portion of Myanmar’s territory. This context underscores concerns that aid diversion and blockages are politically motivated, aimed at weakening resistance-held areas.
Past Disasters Highlight a Troubling Pattern of Aid Obstruction
Past natural calamities, including Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Typhoon Yagi in 2024, witnessed similar obstruction of relief efforts in regions held by resistance groups. The military has previously been accused of impeding aid by withholding supplies at customs, denying travel authorizations to aid personnel, and imposing restrictions on essential assistance.
Mr. Quinley characterized this as a “worrying trend” particularly evident during crises like the recent earthquake. He emphasized the junta’s deliberate policy of blocking aid to areas perceived as sympathetic to the broader resistance movement.
James Rodehaver, head of the Myanmar team at the UN Human Rights Office, suggested a punitive element in the junta’s aid obstruction. He posited that the junta, lacking popular support, deliberately deprives communities of aid to punish them and undermine their resilience.
Dire Conditions Emerge in Sagaing Region
Reports from aid agencies highlight the escalating crisis in Sagaing, revealing critical shortages of basic necessities. Food, water, and fuel are dwindling, while aid-laden trucks remain stranded at military checkpoints encircling the city. Hundreds of displaced residents are reportedly sleeping outdoors. Rescue volunteers, who initially relied on manual methods to extract victims from debris, have exhausted their supplies of body bags.
Local media reports indicate that community members attempting to provide earthquake relief are facing bureaucratic hurdles. They are allegedly required to seek authorization from junta authorities, submitting detailed lists of volunteers and proposed donations.
Bureaucracy as a Tool to Restrict Aid
Humanitarian sources familiar with the junta’s tactics told the BBC that employing extensive bureaucratic procedures is a routine method to constrain the operations of international aid organizations in Myanmar. A 2023 registration law mandates that such organizations obtain registration certificates and often sign memoranda of understanding with government ministries to legally operate within the country.
An anonymous source disclosed that aid groups are frequently compelled to exclude specific activities, regions, or townships from their project proposals, leaving no room for negotiation. Areas beyond the junta’s direct control are typically disallowed, effectively restricting aid access to contested zones.
Underground Aid Networks Emerge to Circumvent Restrictions
Despite the junta’s restrictions, aid organizations have devised strategies to deliver assistance. A significant portion of humanitarian aid in Myanmar operates clandestinely, utilizing local networks to bypass checkpoints and distribute resources discreetly. Financial transactions often occur outside Myanmar’s formal banking system to avoid scrutiny and potential intervention from the central bank.
Sources indicate that some organizations maintain bank accounts in Thailand to receive aid funds privately, subsequently transporting cash across the border into Myanmar. However, these covert operations are time-consuming and can lead to critical delays in aid delivery, potentially with fatal consequences.
Hope and Skepticism Amidst Humanitarian Crisis
Despite the daunting challenges, some aid workers express cautious optimism, spurred by the earthquake’s magnitude and Min Aung Hlaing’s appeal for global aid. Louise Gorton, an emergency specialist at UNICEF’s East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, acknowledged past challenges but suggested that the sheer scale of this emergency might create pressure for unfettered humanitarian access.
Cara Bragg, country manager for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Myanmar, echoed these concerns, acknowledging the risk of aid being directed based on political considerations rather than need. However, she affirmed CRS’s commitment to reaching the hardest-hit areas, irrespective of territorial control, in accordance with humanitarian principles.
Junta’s Actions Undermine Aid Efforts
Early indicators suggest that the junta’s actions contradict its stated commitment to facilitating aid. Despite the international appeal, military airstrikes on affected regions shortly after the earthquake resulted in civilian casualties. Furthermore, ceasefire proposals from resistance groups, intended to facilitate aid delivery, were initially rejected by Min Aung Hlaing.
While the junta later agreed to a limited ceasefire, the sincerity of this commitment remains questionable. The junta’s history of duplicity and the ongoing military operations raise profound doubts about their willingness to genuinely prioritize humanitarian aid over political and military objectives.
Mr. Quinley emphasized the critical need for vigilant monitoring to ensure aid reaches those in need and is not weaponized or blocked by the junta. He expressed deep skepticism regarding the junta leader’s credibility, underscoring the urgency of independent and transparent aid distribution mechanisms.