In Bangkok, Thailand, which was also affected by the earthquake, 76 construction workers are missing after the collapse of an unfinished skyscraper, and the death toll there has risen to 17.
The search and rescue efforts in Myanmar are currently focused on Mandalay and the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
Survivors are still being rescued from the rubble, and multiple international aid teams have arrived in the affected areas, although the delivery of aid is being hindered by damage to airports.
Immediate Needs
“People urgently need shelter, medical care, water, and sanitation support. This disaster puts more pressure on already vulnerable people facing an alarming crisis,” stated the UN aid coordination office in the region, OCHA, on X.
Burmese civilians are caught between the military junta and multiple armed militias fighting for control of the country since the February 2021 coup, displacing over three million people.
The National Unity Government, representing the democratically elected civilian administration deposed by the coup, has called on rebel fighters to observe a two-week ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
However, the military regime is reportedly continuing airstrikes, including in areas near the earthquake’s epicenter.
A Call for Ceasefire
The Human Rights Council-appointed independent expert monitoring the situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has urged the junta to declare an immediate ceasefire.
“Military conscription should be suspended; aid workers should not fear arrest, and there should be no obstructions to aid getting to where it is most needed. Every minute counts,” he added.
The UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, is on the ground, assessing critical needs and delivering life-saving aid, especially for women and girls.
Risks for Women and Girls
UNFPA has highlighted that women and girls face increased risks in emergencies, including compromised access to maternal healthcare and a heightened risk of gender-based violence.
UNFPA is committed to supporting relief efforts, prioritizing the well-being of women and girls, including pregnant women, mothers, and adolescents.
UNICEF Myanmar’s Ko Sai has described the quake as “an absolute catastrophe” for children, emphasizing the need for urgent assistance.
Urgent Medical Supplies
The WHO has dispatched nearly three tons of medical supplies from its emergency stockpile in Yangon to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Daw.
The World Food Programme has begun its first emergency food distribution in Nay Pyi Taw, including high-energy biscuits, and plans to scale up its assistance.
WHO has issued a 30-day flash appeal for $8 million to provide trauma care, prevent disease outbreaks, and restore critical services damaged by the earthquake.
Donate to the UN emergency appeal for Myanmar.
A major road in Nay Pyi Taw shows severe structural damage following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar.
Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/03/1161716
