UN Reports Road Damage Disrupts Humanitarian Efforts in Myanmar Following Major Earthquake

GENEVA - Humanitarian efforts in Myanmar are facing significant challenges due to extensive damage to roads and infrastructure caused by a recent earthquake, as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.7, struck on Friday and has severely impacted essential infrastructure, including key bridges and roadways, complicating access to affected areas.

In particular, damage to the Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay expressway has led to service interruptions, with cracks and distortions in the road surface forcing public transport to cease operations. The UN agency highlighted that hospitals in central and northwestern regions of Myanmar are currently overwhelmed due to a surge in patients injured during the quake.

In response to the immediate needs, seventeen cargo trucks carrying essential supplies, including shelter materials and medical equipment, are scheduled to arrive on March 30. These supplies are crucial to alleviate shortages of critical medical items such as blood bags and anesthetics.

As the country grapples with the aftermath of the earthquake, which has resulted in over 1,600 fatalities, Myanmar's military authorities have allowed the entry of hundreds of foreign rescue workers. This earthquake marks one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike the nation in recent years, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in a country already ravaged by ongoing civil conflict, economic instability, and widespread displacement.

The magnitude of the disaster has crippled airports, bridges, and highways, further complicating rescue and recovery operations. The UN has called for urgent international assistance to support the ongoing humanitarian response and to rebuild the devastated infrastructure.