The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,354, with 4,850 injured and 220 missing, according to government media on Saturday. Meanwhile, the UN's humanitarian aid chief has praised the humanitarian and community groups for their support in assisting those affected by the earthquake.
Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, returned to the country's capital Naypyitaw after attending a summit in Bangkok with leaders from Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and India. At the summit, Min Aung Hlaing reportedly committed to holding "free and fair" elections in Myanmar, as stated by the country's state media.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a permanent ceasefire in Myanmar following the earthquake and emphasized that the elections should be "inclusive and cIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a permanent ceasefire in Myanmar following the earthquake and emphasized that the elections should be "inclusive and credible." However, critics have labeled the elections as "fraudulent," viewing them as a means for the military rulers to retain power through their preferred choices.
Since the military coup in 2021 that ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the military regime has been struggling to govern Myanmar. This has led to a collapse in the economy and basic services such as healthcare, a situation worsened by the earthquake on March 28. Due to the civil war following the coup, more than three million people have been displaced, and a third of the population is facing food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN data.
On Friday, UN humanitarian aid chief Tom Fletcher posted from Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city near the earthquake's epicenter, where he praised the humanitarian and community groups for responding with "courage, skill, and determination." "Many people, despite losing everything, have gone out to help the survivors," he said.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stated on Friday that the junta government has been limiting aid to some earthquake-affected areas where people oppose their rule. The office also mentioned that it is investigating 53 reported attacks, 16 of which occurred after the ceasefire, including some aerial assaults.
