Myanmar Junta Blamed for Deadly Earthquake Fallout

YANGON — The death toll from Myanmar’s devastating March earthquake has drawn sharp criticism of the ruling military junta, accused of crippling the healthcare system and obstructing aid at a time of national crisis.

The 7.7 magnitude quake, which killed over 3,700 people and injured 5,000, hit regions already battered by conflict, including Sagaing. But humanitarian workers say the true scale of the disaster was worsened by years of military attacks on health services since the 2021 coup.

Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights, say medics have been targeted as part of a broader crackdown on dissent, leaving hospitals understaffed and ill-equipped. Many doctors fled or joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, unwilling to serve under the junta. Others fear arrest or reprisals if they operate in junta-controlled zones.

“The situation is dire,” said one doctor who treated survivors in secret and asked not to be named. “Many patients died simply because there were no doctors to treat them.”

Before the coup, Myanmar had made modest progress in building its healthcare workforce. But WHO figures show a collapse since 2020—from around six doctors per 10,000 people to just one. At least 74 health workers have reportedly been killed and hundreds more imprisoned.

The military’s reluctance to coordinate with civilian groups has also hobbled relief efforts. Despite a formal ceasefire on April 2, the junta has carried out over 170 airstrikes since—dozens in quake-hit areas—further deterring aid workers and worsening public fear.

Underground networks of doctors continue to treat the injured, but with few resources and no official backing, their reach is limited. The World Health Organization has warned that the upcoming monsoon season could trigger outbreaks of disease among the tens of thousands still sheltering in makeshift camps.

“The junta’s deliberate neglect has turned a natural disaster into a man-made catastrophe,” said Sophia Htwe, a Burmese academic whose friend died after being trapped in rubble without treatment.

As emergency supplies dwindle and official support remains minimal, the people of Myanmar face not only the scars of an earthquake, but the continued fallout of military rule.

-2025-05-08