According to residents of Naypyidaw, the military is misusing shelter materials, tarpaulins, and tents donated by the international community for victims of the Sagaing earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 this year. Instead of distributing these materials to affected civilians who lost their homes and suffered casualties, the military is using them for other purposes. Multiple residents of Naypyidaw have witnessed and documented these military actions.
Military engineering battalions are currently leading renovation work at the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw, where they are using shelter materials, tarpaulins, and tents that were donated for earthquake victims. Residents report seeing these materials being used across the entire pagoda platform. Additionally, these donated tents are being utilized by road workers and military engineers in various road repair projects being carried out by military engineering battalions.
Civil servants in Naypyidaw have revealed that the donated tarpaulins, tents, and shelter materials are also being used in the repair work of government ministry buildings damaged by the March 28 earthquake. This misappropriation of aid materials is occurring while earthquake victims continue to face housing difficulties. The materials were specifically donated to help those affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck on March 28, which resulted in nearly 4,000 deaths across major central Myanmar cities including Mandalay and Sagaing, along with widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
