By Salih Okuroglu
Following the earthquakes in Myanmar, which killed more than 3,000 people, search and rescue efforts have been hampered by temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, power outages, limited access to clean water, and attacks by the military.
Ankara
The earthquakes that occurred on March 28 near the Sagaing region in central Myanmar killed 3,145 people and injured 4,589 people.
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The work, which continues with a lack of equipment, human resources and financial support, is made even more difficult by the temperature reaching 40 degrees.
All these problems, along with power outages, limited access to drinking water and the monsoon rains expected to arrive in the coming months, are putting the lives of the locals, who are forced to live in tents, at risk. Authorities are warning that epidemics could break out after the earthquake in the summer.
A week after the earthquake, there are still rural areas that search and rescue teams have not been able to reach, and authorities fear the death toll will rise.
The ongoing conflict in the country also makes it difficult to cope with the destruction left by the earthquake.
Myanmar expert and co-founder of Southeast Asia Innovation Forces (FORSEA) Maung Zarni and Director of Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) Kyaw Win made assessments to AA correspondent regarding the earthquakes that occurred in Myanmar.
Zarni, who lives in London, the capital of England, said that she was born in Mandalay, one of the cities most affected by the earthquakes, and that she learned the news of the earthquake from social media and her relatives.
Zarni said an estimated 80 to 90 percent of the infrastructure of Sagaing, a city with a history of 500 years, has been destroyed.
“Some of the neighborhoods where I grew up and went to school were completely flattened”
“Downtown Mandalay, some of the neighborhoods where I grew up and went to school, were all flattened,” Zarni said.
On the other hand, Zarni pointed out that the temperature has reached 40 degrees, electricity is not stable, and therefore people cannot operate water pumps to get drinking water.
Zarni also pointed out that epidemics could break out in the region due to current conditions, and said, “Even drinking water is scarce there. This is a country that is completely unprepared for natural disasters such as floods or a major earthquake.”
“Even distant countries like Türkiye sent large amounts of aid supplies”
Zarni said that aid to Myanmar, especially from neighboring countries, has helped search and rescue teams.
Stating that more than a dozen countries supported the work in the region, Zarni said, “Even distant countries like Türkiye sent large amounts of aid materials.”
Calls on US to return $1 billion in frozen Myanmar funds
Zarni pointed out that Myanmar’s $1 billion worth of assets, which were frozen by the government of then US President Joe Biden after the coup in 2021, could be used for the reconstruction of cities affected by earthquakes.
“If the money is going to be used for something like rebuilding earthquake zones, I think that’s a legitimate reason for the US government, (President Donald) Trump, to consider returning the $1 billion to the people of Myanmar. It’s time for the US to show some decency and understanding to allow the people of Myanmar to get this money back,” Maung Zarni said.
Noting that the military government announced a ceasefire on April 2, valid until April 22, but that it was violated by the army again less than 24 hours later, Zarni said, “Most importantly, what is needed is a temporary ceasefire that will lead to a longer-term political negotiation.”
– “67” mosques have been destroyed in the earthquakes so far
Kyaw Win, Director of the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN), also stated that centuries-old mosques that had been neglected for years were destroyed due to the administration’s attitude during the earthquakes.
Kyaw said that many Muslims were among those who died because the earthquake occurred during Friday prayers, and that according to data they obtained from the field, 67 mosques have become unusable so far.
Kyaw listed the most pressing problems following the earthquakes as the lack of toilets and people’s lack of access to clean water.
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7 April 2025