GENEVA: Humanitarian operations in Myanmar are facing major challenges due to damaged roads and critical infrastructure, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday caused severe damage to key infrastructure, including bridges and highways, making it difficult for relief teams to reach affected areas, OCHA stated.
“Damage to the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway has led to major service disruptions, with cracks and surface distortions forcing highway buses to suspend operations,” the UN agency said in a statement.
Hospitals in central and northwestern Myanmar are struggling to accommodate the large number of injured people, while shortages of medical supplies have added to the crisis. A shipment of 17 cargo trucks carrying shelter and medical supplies is expected to arrive on March 30, bringing much-needed medicines, blood bags, and anesthetics.
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s military rulers have permitted the entry of hundreds of foreign rescue personnel to assist in relief efforts. The death toll has surpassed 1,600, making this the deadliest natural disaster to hit the conflict-ridden nation in years.
Friday’s powerful quake, one of the largest to strike Myanmar in a century, crippled airports, highways, and bridges, exacerbating an already dire situation in a country struggling with civil war, economic collapse, and mass displacement.
