In brief
Three days after a powerful earthquake struck Sagaing, Myanmar, and its surrounding areas, damage assessments reveal a staggering human cost and impede aid efforts.
The 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastated the war-ridden city of Sagaing on March 28, toppling structures and leading to a rising death toll which, as reported on Monday, has reached 2,056. The scale of destruction, particularly in Sagaing, where more than 80 percent of the community is reported to be affected, is exacerbated by the region's isolation due to ongoing military conflicts. With local and international aid initiatives just beginning to mobilize, reports have surfaced of volunteers encountering resistance from Myanmar’s military forces, which have imposed barricades around the hardest-hit areas.Residents now seek assistance under increasingly dire circumstances, as essential routes and communications have been severely disrupted. Local volunteer U Tin Shwe expressed frustration at the military's control over rescue efforts. "We are not allowed to freely enter and provide assistance," he remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for help at a monastery still housing trapped monks amid the rubble.The Myanmar military has closed off roads and bridges for safety reasons, further distancing the 300,000 residents of Sagaing from immediate relief efforts. Meanwhile, rescue teams have concentrated their resources in more accessible cities such as Mandalay and Naypyidaw, where many generals reside. Preliminary assessments from the U.S. Geological Survey indicate the situation could worsen, with potentials for the death toll to exceed 10,000 if aid does not reach Sagaing soon. Social media has become a crucial platform for locals pleading for redirected foreign aid to their beleaguered city, amplifying the urgent call for assistance from foreign governments to respond effectively to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Sagaing.
