International Aid Arrives in Myanmar Following Devastating Earthquake
International aid and rescue teams have begun arriving in Myanmar to assist the country in the wake of a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck on Friday, leaving an estimated 1,700 dead and thousands injured, Al Jazeera reports.
The earthquake, followed by a magnitude 6.4 tremor, caused widespread destruction, particularly in the Mandalay region, damaging buildings and infrastructure, including the airport.
Myanmar’s neighbors and international organizations have mobilized to provide urgent assistance. India, China, Malaysia, and Singapore have dispatched aircraft and warships carrying relief supplies and rescue teams. Thailand, itself impacted by the earthquake with at least 18 fatalities, is also providing aid to Myanmar.
A convoy of 17 Chinese cargo trucks carrying crucial shelter and medical supplies is expected to arrive in Mandalay on Sunday, completing a challenging road journey from Yangon. Beijing has pledged approximately $13.8 million in emergency aid and deployed over 135 rescue personnel and experts, along with essential equipment such as medical kits and generators.
India has deployed two C-17 military transport aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and 120 personnel to Naypyidaw. From there, the team will travel to Mandalay to establish a 60-bed emergency treatment center, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has flown 120 rescuers and supplies to Yangon, while the Ministry of Health has dispatched a medical team to assist with the crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating its earthquake response from its Geneva headquarters, recognizing the scale of the disaster. The WHO is also mobilizing its logistics hub in Dubai to prepare and ship crucial trauma injury supplies.
Emergency aid has also been pledged by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Despite the influx of aid, an initial report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns of a “severe shortage of medical supplies,” which is significantly hindering the ongoing response efforts.
Further complicating the situation, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck near Mandalay on Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported from this latest tremor.
