Myanmar Earthquake Claims Over 3,300 Lives as UN Seeks International Aid | News

The UN humanitarian chief emphasizes the need for global support for the people of Myanmar following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that leveled structures and damaged vital infrastructures.

The death count from a significant earthquake in Myanmar has surpassed 3,300 as the UN aid chief calls for international assistance for the affected nation.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit the Southeast Asian country on March 28, resulting in 3,354 fatalities, 4,508 injuries, and 220 individuals reported missing, according to the latest figures released by state media on Saturday.

The UN’s leading aid official visited affected individuals in Mandalay, a city in central Myanmar near the epicenter, which is facing extensive destruction. He characterized the devastation as “staggering.”

“The world must unite in support of the people of Myanmar,” Tom Fletcher shared in a post on X.

He commended the humanitarian and local organizations that responded to the earthquake with “bravery, expertise, and resolve.”

“Many have lost everything yet continued to assist survivors,” Fletcher remarked.

In Mandalay #Myanmar meeting communities at epicentre of earthquake.

The destruction is staggering. Lives lost. Homes destroyed. Livelihoods shattered. But the resilience is incredible.

The UN is here to help – the world must rally behind the people of Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/oL6HtUjrVF

— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) April 5, 2025

This updated casualty figure was provided after the military government’s leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, returned from a rare international summit in Bangkok on Friday, where he engaged with leaders including the prime ministers of Thailand and India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated for a permanent ceasefire in Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict and stated that forthcoming elections should be “inclusive and credible,” as expressed by an Indian foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday.

China, Russia, and India were among the first nations to extend help, dispatching rescue teams to Myanmar to assist in finding survivors.

Typically, the United States plays a leading role in global disaster response; however, President Donald Trump has dissolved the country’s humanitarian aid agency.

On Friday, Washington announced an additional $7 million in aid on top of an earlier $2 million allocated to Myanmar, while noting that it was unreasonable to expect the country to continue spearheading humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Since the military ousted the democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, Myanmar has been struggling under military rule, causing the economy and essential services like healthcare to deteriorate, a situation worsened by the earthquake on March 28.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported on Friday that the military regime was limiting aid to regions affected by the quake where communities do not support its governance.

The UN agency stated it was looking into 53 reported military attacks on opponents, which included air strikes, with 16 incidents occurring after the ceasefire declaration on Wednesday.