Myanmar earthquake: Global aid arrives for survivors
International teams have arrived in Myanmar to aid in search and rescue operations for those missing after Friday's powerful earthquake, which claimed over 1,600 lives, the BBC reports.
Among these teams are those from China and Hong Kong, equipped with specialized equipment and trained search dogs. India is also among the nations providing aid.
The death toll exceeds 1,000. EU offers €2.5 million in humanitarian aid
The next phase will focus on ensuring regular aid deliveries to a country with already immense humanitarian needs. A UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar condemned the military's ongoing attacks in areas controlled by ethnic rebel groups and severely affected by the earthquake, calling on the ruling junta to cease military operations.
The European Union will provide 2.5 million euros in initial and emergency humanitarian aid to those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Myanmar, according to a statement published on Friday, March 28, on the European Commission's website, DW reports.
"This new humanitarian aid will help save lives and meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable people in Myanmar, with particular attention to displaced persons and conflict-affected communities," the statement said.
The European Commission also activated its Copernicus satellite service to assess the earthquake's impact. "The Commission, together with its humanitarian partners, is assessing the situation and needs on the ground to mobilize additional EU assistance," the European Executive's press service said.
On March 28, Myanmar was shaken by several strong earthquakes, with magnitudes of up to 7.7. The aftershocks were also felt in Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The military junta reported over 1,000 deaths, a sharp increase from the initial 144, Reuters reports.
In Thailand, at least nine people lost their lives after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook buildings and caused the collapse of a skyscraper under construction in the capital, Bangkok. 30 people were trapped under the rubble, and 49 are missing.
According to the US Geological Survey's (USGS) predictive model, the death toll in Myanmar could exceed 10,000, and economic losses could surpass the country's annual gross domestic product.
The earthquake damaged roads, bridges, and buildings, and the military junta's supreme general made a rare appeal for international assistance on Friday. "Search and rescue operations are underway in the affected areas," the junta said through state media.
A rescue team from China arrived in the capital, Yangon, hundreds of kilometers from the severely affected cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw, the country's administrative capital, where part of a 1,000-bed hospital was damaged.
Russia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore are sending planes with aid and intervention personnel to Myanmar.
"We will continue to monitor the situation, and further aid will be provided," said Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
South Korea announced it would provide initial humanitarian aid of $2 million to Myanmar through international organizations. The United States, which has a tense relationship with the military regime in Myanmar and has imposed sanctions on its officials, including leader Min Aung Hlaing, said it would provide assistance.
The earthquake, which occurred around noon on Friday, affected a large part of the country, from the central plains around Mandalay to the hills of the Shan region, areas where the junta does not have full control.
In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, locals and rescue teams attempted to save people trapped beneath collapsed buildings, hampered by a lack of heavy equipment.
Htet Min Oo, 25, rescued from under a wall by other residents, said he tried to clear the rubble of a collapsed building himself to save his grandmother and two uncles, but eventually gave up.
"I don't know if they are still alive under the rubble," he said, with tears in his eyes. "After so long, I don't think there is any hope left."
A report by the US Geological Survey and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) estimates that the total death toll could reach thousands.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
