UN Alerts: Time Running Out to Rescue Myanmar Quake Survivors

• Civil war in Myanmar may hinder aid delivery, according to organizations.
• Relief organizations highlight urgent requirements for water, food, and shelter.
• A rebel coalition fighting the junta declares a unilateral ceasefire.

On Tuesday, aid organizations in Myanmar painted a grim picture of chaos and destruction following an earthquake that has claimed over 2,700 lives. They emphasized the critical demand for food, water, and shelter, warning that the opportunity to locate survivors is rapidly diminishing.

Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, stated in a televised address that the death toll from the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday is expected to exceed 3,000. By Tuesday, the count was reported at 2,719, with 4,521 people injured and 441 still unaccounted for.

This earthquake, the strongest to hit Myanmar in more than a century, struck during lunchtime on Friday, bringing down both ancient pagodas and contemporary buildings.

Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, along with Naypyitaw, the capital built as a stronghold by the previous junta, suffered substantial destruction.

In Thailand, the quake resulted in 21 fatalities as hundreds of buildings were damaged. Rescuers continue to search for survivors amidst the debris of a collapsed construction skyscraper in Bangkok, though they acknowledge that time is not on their side.

In Myanmar, UN agencies reported that hospitals are overwhelmed, and rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict. Rebels have accused the military of conducting airstrikes despite the earthquake, prompting a rebel coalition to announce a one-month ceasefire to facilitate aid efforts.

Aid organizations raised alarms regarding shortages of food, water, and sanitation as the tremors continue to rock the region on Tuesday.

Julia Rees from UNICEF, who just returned from one of the hardest-hit areas near the epicenter, noted that entire communities have been decimated, resulting in overwhelming destruction and psychological distress.

“This crisis continues to unfold. The aftershocks persist. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with bodies still being retrieved from the rubble,” she stated. “Let me be clear: the needs are enormous and increasing by the hour. The time for life-saving responses is running out.”

Civil War Complicates Relief Efforts

In the vicinity of Mandalay, 50 children and two teachers lost their lives when their preschool collapsed, according to the UN humanitarian agency.

In a rare success story, a 63-year-old woman was rescued from the debris of a building in Naypyitaw after being trapped for 91 hours. She was discovered on Tuesday morning and extracted an hour later, thanks to collaborative rescue efforts from teams from India, China, and Russia.

The ongoing civil war in Myanmar, sparked by the military coup in 2021, has complicated access to the injured and homeless, exacerbated by strict controls on internet and communication networks.

A rebel faction, the Karen National Union, reported that the junta carried out airstrikes in eastern Myanmar at a time when the focus should have been on earthquake relief efforts.

On Tuesday, the Three Brotherhood Alliance, consisting of three major rebel groups opposed to the junta, declared a unilateral ceasefire for one month to facilitate effective humanitarian assistance.

Amnesty International called on the junta to allow aid to reach areas beyond its control, with its Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman emphasizing, “The military has a history of denying aid to regions where resistance groups are active. It must grant unimpeded access to all humanitarian organizations immediately.”

In his address, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing noted “lessons learned” and criticized the poor quality of construction, stating that some buildings were constructed cheaply and without adequate investment.

It remains unclear if Min Aung Hlaing will proceed with a rare trip abroad later this week to attend a regional summit in Bangkok as scheduled. The foreign ministry in Thailand indicated that he might participate via teleconference.

“We Will Keep Going”

In Bangkok, rescue teams continue to scour the wreckage of a collapsed skyscraper for any signals of life, even as the days since the quake increase the skepticism regarding survival chances.

Approximately 70 bodies are estimated to be trapped under the debris, with experts confirming that 12 have been located through scanners. However, large debris remains in the way, prompting rescuers to cut through concrete slabs to reach them.

“Our focus remains on finding survivors. Cases exist where individuals have survived for up to a week,” stated Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt during a news briefing. “We cannot declare that hope is lost… as long as there is structure, air, and no direct heat. We will continue our efforts.”

Multinational teams, including personnel from the U.S. and Israel, are assisting in the search and rescue operations as families and friends remain anxious for news of their loved ones.

“The rescue teams are doing everything they can. I can see that,” said 19-year-old Artithap Lalod, anxiously awaiting updates about his brother.

Initial tests indicated that some steel samples from the collapsed site did not meet standards, prompting the Thai government to initiate an investigation into the collapse’s cause.

So far, 14 deaths have been confirmed at the building site, with seven additional fatalities reported elsewhere in Bangkok.