UN Warns Myanmar Quake Response Is Being Neglected

The Irrawaddy

A senior UN official has warned that the humanitarian crisis triggered by Myanmar’s powerful earthquake three months ago is being dangerously overlooked by the international community.

Titon Mitra, who leads the UN Development Programme in Myanmar, said that while global awareness of the 7.7-magnitude quake remains, sustained support has sharply declined—leaving hundreds of thousands of survivors struggling.

“This is not a forgotten crisis, but it is a neglected one,” Mitra told NHK World. “The attention is not staying, and people on the ground are paying the price.”

The earthquake, which struck central Myanmar in late March, killed over 3,700 people and injured more than 5,000, according to the ruling military junta. Regions near the epicentre, including Sagaing and the city of Mandalay, remain devastated.

Mitra said around 200,000 people are still displaced, with at least 50,000 living in makeshift camps. “While many organisations have provided tents, they haven’t reached everyone. Rebuilding lives remains a massive challenge,” he said.

Piles of rubble continue to choke towns and villages. Mitra estimated that 1.5 million tonnes of debris still need clearing—a task that local authorities and aid agencies are struggling to manage without further international assistance.

The UN has repeatedly called for sustained humanitarian aid to help Myanmar’s earthquake survivors, but donor fatigue and the country’s complex political situation appear to be hampering efforts.

Since the military coup in 2021, much of the world’s aid has bypassed the junta, complicating the logistics of large-scale disaster relief. However, the UN insists that support must not falter due to politics.

“This is a moment where solidarity matters,” Mitra said. “Without renewed commitment from the global community, recovery will be slow, and the suffering will deepen.”

With monsoon rains looming, concerns are growing that those still in temporary shelters may face even harsher conditions. Aid groups warn that unless international focus returns soon, an already dire situation could become far worse.

-2025-06-28