Chaos after earthquake in Myanmar: military attacks despite ceasefire!

Chaos after earthquake in Myanmar: military attacks despite ceasefire!

The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is dire and requires urgent international attention. On Friday, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake shook the country, particularly the city of Mandalay and the Sagaing region. As of today, April 3, 2025, at least 3,003 deaths and over 4,500 injuries have been reported. Estimates suggest the numbers may be even higher as rescue and cleanup efforts continue and infrastructure is severely damaged. In many areas, electricity and telephone connections are only functioning sporadically, making it extremely difficult to rescue survivors. Vienna.at reports that The military government of Myanmar considers the situation to be catastrophic.

Despite a three-week ceasefire announced on Wednesday to support rescue and reconstruction work, military operations took place overnight in the earthquake-hit region. The military leadership apparently fired on a Chinese Red Cross aid convoy, further endangering the aid workers' efforts. This creates an alarming situation as many people rely on humanitarian aid. Before the quake, over 20 million people in Myanmar were already in need of aid. ZDF reports that Ethnic groups and local militias have been asked to stop all attacks, while the military has threatened consequences if these conditions are not met.

Rescue operations and humanitarian situation

The earthquake disaster has further aggravated the humanitarian situation in the midst of the already existing civil war. Thousands of buildings, including homes and hospitals, were reportedly severely damaged. The rescue operations turned out to be extremely difficult: rescue teams mostly found bodies, but were also able to rescue survivors. A notable case is that of a 26-year-old hotel worker who was rescued after 108 hours under the rubble. Deutsche Welle explains that Around three million people were already displaced before the earthquake and the number could now rise further.

While international assistance is being offered, including from Russia, China, India, Singapore, the US and the EU, the underlying threat of further military conflict remains. The military, which has brutally ruled Myanmar since the 2021 coup, has already carried out air strikes on resistance groups, making the situation even more precarious. Observers point out that survival options in the earthquake zone are severely limited. Some reports indicate that the military continues to aggressively target civilians in the Sagaing region, while also requesting aid funds.

Spiritual dimension and historical parallels

The destruction of important cultural sites, including important pagodas such as the Mahamuni Pagoda, adds an additional spiritual dimension to the earthquake disaster. Experts point to historical parallels to an earthquake in 1930, which was seen as a sign of a national crisis. These spiritual perspectives heighten concerns about Myanmar's future and the current political situation. The military junta and international partners must now work together even more urgently to prevent the crisis from escalating further and to support the urgently needed reconstruction.