Myanmar Junta blocks medical aid and attacks relief workers during the earthquake crisis

April 4, 2025

HRRC denounces the Myanmar junta’s deliberate obstruction of earthquake relief efforts, worsening the humanitarian crisis. The junta must be held accountable for hindering aid, attacking relief convoys, and restricting rescue operations.

Rescue workers in Myanmar post-earthquake on March 29, 2025. [Image credit: AP]

Myanmar's junta has shown extreme brutality and negligence in responding to the deadly earthquake that hit central Myanmar, killing hundreds and leaving many more in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Instead of supporting rescue operations, the junta has deliberately blocked them, putting military control ahead of human life. In a startling display of aggressiveness, junta forces fired on a Chinese Red Cross assistance group in Shan State (a state in Myanmar), forcing them to flee despite their mission to deliver vital supplies to earthquake victims. The junta defended the bombing by alleging that the convoy lacked prior authorization, demonstrating its disregard for human suffering.

In addition to using direct force, the junta has severely restricted humanitarian aid, making the already desperate situation worse. To hinder rescue efforts, the military has implemented curfews, restricted internet access, and bombed affected communities. The junta has mandated that volunteers acquire authorization before aiding survivors in the city of Sagaing, where bodies are accumulating as a result of a lack of supplies. The junta has denied all foreign rescue teams despite its original appeal for international aid, including the emergency workers from Taiwan. It also banned foreign media from reporting within the nation.

Millions of people had already been displaced by the ongoing fighting in Myanmar, making the humanitarian situation there severe even before the earthquake. As demonstrated by past cyclones, the military's history of delaying disaster aid further demonstrates its disregard for human suffering. A natural disaster has now become a humanitarian calamity as a result of the junta's activities, which include obstructing supplies, attacking relief convoys, and giving military operations priority over emergency response.

HRRC warns the international community that Myanmar’s junta cannot be trusted to manage disaster relief. Instead, foreign governments and aid organizations should bypass military-controlled channels and work directly with local organizations to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. Immediate pressure must be applied to force the junta to lift restrictions, as its continued obstruction will only deepen the suffering of Myanmar’s earthquake victims.

Glossary

Accountable – Answerable or responsible to justify their actions or decisions.
Accumulating – Gathering or collecting more and more of something over time.
Brutality – Extreme cruelty or violence.
Bypass – To go around or avoid something instead of going through it.
Calamity – A big disaster or terrible event that causes suffering.
Channels – Ways or paths through which something (like help or information) is delivered.
Convoy – A group of vehicles or people traveling together for safety.
Curfews – Rules that say people must stay inside after a certain time.
Cyclone – A powerful storm with strong winds and heavy rain.
Denounces – To publicly declare wrong or evil.
Deliberately – Doing something on purpose, not by accident.
Displaced – Forced to leave home because of danger or disaster.
Hinder – To slow down or make something difficult to do.
Mandated – Ordered or required by law or authority.
Military junta – A government controlled by military leaders instead of elected officials.
Negligence – Carelessness or failure to do something important, leading to harm.
Obstruction – Blocking or stopping something from happening.
Startling – Very surprising or shocking.
Vital – Extremely important or necessary.

Sources

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Myanmar Junta blocks medical aid and attacks relief workers during the earthquake crisis

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