Among the victims were 200 Buddhist monks killed when their monastery collapsed and 50 children who perished when their preschool classroom crumbled. The earthquake also claimed the lives of around 700 Muslim worshippers attending Friday prayers, with many mosques in the region destroyed or severely damaged.
The ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar has made relief efforts even more challenging, with many areas inaccessible to aid groups due to fighting. Rescue operations are being hampered by power outages, fuel shortages, and communication issues, with search teams resorting to manual methods to find survivors.
The earthquake’s impact has further strained Myanmar’s already fragile healthcare system, with several hospitals destroyed or damaged. Over 10,000 buildings have been reported as collapsed or severely damaged, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
The UN has called for unimpeded access for aid teams to assist those affected by the disaster, as millions were already in need of humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing civil war. Relief efforts are being complicated by the fact that many displaced people were already living in areas affected by flooding in the previous year.
Monsoon rains are expected to begin in May, adding another layer of difficulty to the already challenging task of providing shelter and aid to survivors. International aid teams from countries including Russia, China, India, and several Southeast Asian nations are already on the ground assisting with rescue operations and providing vital supplies.
