One month after a humanitarian catastrophe unfolded with a deadly earthquake in Myanmar, the country finds itself in the eye of a double-whammy crisis. Almost 200,000 people are presently displaced and 56,000 buildings are reported damaged or destroyed. The disaster in mid-March aggravated the immense humanitarian crises that existed prior. It raised immediate and pressing questions of how to actually access this aid while military occupation and war rage on.
In the wake of the quake, many humanitarian organizations are still scrambling to get help into the country while facing overwhelming challenges. Reports from several aid groups describe long, dangerous or impassable delays facing aid groups, often forced to halt their missions in worst-hit areas by military control. Khin Ohmar of Progressive Voice shared what the situation looks like on the ground. She emphasized that others are attempting to help civilians, unbeknownst to the military.
The situation is no less urgent as international humanitarian aid organizations continue to work to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable and affected populations. As Annette Hearns of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reiterated, “People want to live in dignity.” She underscored the urgent need to restore vital humanitarian needs and services to people impacted by the earthquake.
Humanitarian Response Faces Challenges
Humanitarian aid groups have quickly mobilized to respond to the terrible disaster. The World Food Programme (WFP) has shifted to cash-based assistance, giving families the freedom to buy what they need most. While this approach seeks to empower individuals and protect local markets, it presents its own challenges.
In Mandalay, strong Red Cross tents have been set up in rich neighborhoods, leaving poor communities at a disadvantage to secure shelters. UNICEF-In this country, UNICEF continues to rapidly deploy sanitation booths. Widespread increases in waterborne disease are putting the health of the American public at great risk. The urgency of these measures is compounded by the looming monsoon season, which could exacerbate conditions for displaced individuals and hinder recovery efforts.
This was the urgent point raised by Titon Mitra from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He cautioned that establishing permanent shelters for those displaced could take up to two years or more. This tight timeline brings significant uncertainty on how best to care for the long-term needs of the families displaced and individuals who have lost their homes.
“For decades, the Myanmar military has exploited natural disasters by manipulating and obstructing humanitarian access,” – Special Advisory Council for Myanmar.
The Impact of Military Control
Amidst the humanitarian crisis, the military junta’s control over many regions complicates relief efforts. Dr. Aeron highlighted that “the worst-hit areas are controlled by the military, not us,” indicating that access for international aid groups is severely restricted.
Ko Htin, a local aid worker, expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “Only villagers are responding in those conflict areas.” Bigger entities are failing to deliver on this level of hurt. This careless disregard endangers vulnerable groups even further, as they move away from active conflict zones in search of safety among cities.
The junta even had the audacity to resurface calls to Mandalay residents to continue paying their electricity bills. This is vitally important, despite all of the devastation the earthquake has already wrought. According to Colonel Norulisyam Shuib, as little as 15% of patients seen at local hospitals were earthquake related. This discovery emphasizes troubling public health implications in the wake of this disaster.
Personal Stories Amidst the Crisis
Meredith Bunn and her colleagues from a local humanitarian NGO have experienced the devastation of the earthquake first hand. Rescue teams pulled a pregnant woman and her rescuers, onlookers and family members broke into applause. They’re continuing to go above and beyond in their efforts to deliver lifesaving care to all who need it.
“After seeing the injuries, some just broke down. We had to get a psychology team from Yangon to speak with them [first responders] by phone,” – Ms Bunn.
Despite limited access to resources and facilities, the Malaysian field hospital team managed to treat approximately 2,000 patients within a short timeframe. Still, challenges remain, as just this week an alarming report came out of some aid spoiling because shipments were not kept at the right temperature in transit and storage.
“There’s multiple witnesses and photographs … some aid is being left to spoil as it is in a space with no consistent temperature control,” – Ms Bunn.
The health risks associated with the untreated injuries and infections are severe. Ms. Bunn noted that “after the earthquake, the majority of deaths were from people with minor to major injuries” who did not receive timely medical care. The inability to access clean water only complicates all of this, making conditions ripe for infection and disease.
“They weren’t treated. Infection and disease just attacked … it was a breeding ground with no clean water,” – Ms Bunn.
