The devastating earthquake in Myanmar has deepened a serious humanitarian crisis on a country already in crisis from the war and poverty inflicted by the military junta. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, the communities shattered by this tragedy, and the countless people enduring unimaginable hardship.
The earthquake epicentre is in one of the most intense conflict zones where death from military air strikes, poverty, and extreme heat is a daily occurrence. With the death toll now beyond 2,000 and rising 265 civil society organisations are calling for disaster relief from the international community. The New Zealand Government has already pledged $NZ2 million.
The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have also warned of the risk of the military junta manipulating or weaponizing relief aid for its own benefit. This has been the experience in previous cyclone disasters in 2008, 2023 and 2024. The junta’s callous indifference to the plight of the earthquake victims is demonstrated by its continued bombing of villages in the days following the earthquake, despite a call for a ceasefire by the pro-democracy National Unity Government.
The tragedy of the disaster being endured daily by the people of Myanmar has been ignored by the international community for long enough. People are suffering poverty, oppression and a military onslaught by an army against its own people. This is an opportunity for people around the world to show that we care. UnionAID is in contact with the alumni of our Myanmar Young Leaders Programme and is working to help ensure that our contributions get directly to communities which need help, and not into the coffers of the military junta and the organisations they control.
Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we hope for a future where peace, justice, and recovery can prevail.
