The United Nations Human Rights Office has announced that the military council is systematically blocking humanitarian aid from reaching people in regions affected by the March 28 earthquake, which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale. The statement emphasizes that the military is specifically targeting areas where people oppose the 2021 military coup, preventing aid from reaching these populations while continuing military operations including airstrikes against these regions.
Following the earthquake, military forces have conducted 53 attacks, including airstrikes, with 16 of these attacks occurring after the military council’s own announcement of a ceasefire. On April 4 alone, eight additional attacks were carried out. According to Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, speaking to reporters in Geneva, areas outside military control are facing a humanitarian crisis due to the complete blockade of aid assistance.
The earthquake has impacted approximately 28 million Myanmar citizens, resulting in widespread destruction of buildings, community displacement, and severe shortages of food, water, and shelter. The death toll has now exceeded 3,100 people. James Rodehaver, head of OHCHR’s Myanmar team, has revealed that the military’s aid restrictions are being used as a strategic measure to target populations that oppose the 2021 military coup.
The Sagaing Region’s earthquake-affected areas are in particularly urgent need of emergency assistance, with the window for providing effective aid rapidly closing, according to the UN spokesperson. The current military airstrikes are described as extremely concerning and must cease immediately, with emphasis needed on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts. The UN has strongly urged for the immediate cessation of military operations and a focus on humanitarian response and recovery efforts in the affected regions.
