The earthquake deepens the crisis in Myanmar with a help effort

International efforts to obtain assistance in Myanmar were intensified on Sunday, days after a devastating earthquake that deepened the crisis in the struggle country.

Rescue and medical teams from China, Russia, India, Thailand and Singapore have arrived in the isolated country of Southeast Asia. Other regional partners, including Vietnam and Malaysia, pledged to send support.

The Military Council said that 1644 people were killed, and 3408 were injured by 139 missing, according to government media, although these figures are expected to rise.

The earthquake also caused at least 17 deaths in Bangkok, the Thai capital, more than 600 miles, while 78 was missing after a tall building collapsed.

The final tremors continued during the weekend, as the 5.1 -1 earthquake hit the Mandalay and Nepidowo, the capital, on Sunday.

The response to the earthquake is scheduled to represent a major challenge to MyanmarWhich was shocked by the conflict for decades, and its repressive military rulers. A report of the United Nations Development Program in January said that the 55 million people bearing “Polycrisis”, with its economy in a state of chaos and gross domestic product less by the Covid-19s.

Amnesty International, Joe Freeman, said the earthquake “could not come in a worse time for Myanmar.” He pointed out that the disaster followed the Trump administration’s transfer to freeze foreign aid and expand the American Agency for International Development, although the US President said that Washington would provide assistance in the wake of the earthquake.

The amnesty estimated that more than a third of the population would need humanitarian assistance this year.

Myanmar has toppled the Nobel Peace Award, Aung San Suu in a coup in 2021. Since then, the conflict has deepened throughout the country with the consensus of the pro -democracy groups with the armed ethnic rebellions against the Military Council.

There are many strategic border areas in the hands of the rebels, although the regime’s control is safer in the central areas including Yangon, the Commercial Center, Mandalay, the second city near the weak center Friday earthquake.

India said its army had sent a team to establish a field hospital near Mandalay and aircraft with some relief supplies. The navy also sends four ships with humanitarian help.

“The relief materials are sent from disasters, humanitarian assistance, and search and rescue teams to the affected areas,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X after speaking to Min Aung Hulang, Prime Minister of Myanmar.

Beijing sent two emergency rescue teams while the Chinese Red Cross sent emergency supplies, according to government media. The southwestern province of Yunnan, which challenges Myanmar, has sent some supplies.

In the past, military governments have refused or restricted to assistance, especially for the areas that the rebel groups maintain.

In 2008, a military dictatorship, including from the United States, rejected the killing of Hurricane Nargis more than 100,000 people. During the most recent disasters, such as Cyclone Modha in 2013 and the sudden floods last year, local relief workers accused the government of blocking aid and donations to the rebel -controlled areas.

“Junta’s response to Moucha and Typhoon Yagi shows its willingness to aid in the midst of natural disasters,” said Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in Myanmar. “The strong international response is necessary for the help of many who were in the intersection of this terrible earthquake.”

The AH NYAR Studies Center, a human rights group that focuses on central Myanmar, said on Sunday that international aid “did not reach the hands of the affected”, with the residents of Mandalay “conducting rescue work on their own.

The group added that some international relief teams were granted permission to work in Mandalay and Nepideo from Monday. But he added that Sagaing, a northern rural area on the border with Mandalay, witnessed the burden of fighting, “banned”.

International agencies said the earthquake destroyed hospitals and caused damage to the main highway between Mandalay and Yangon, the mall of the country. Air traffic control tower at the airport collapsed at Naypyidaw.

“We may not have a clear picture of the extent of damage and loss for some time,” said Amnesty. He added that the middle of Myanmar was also “outer due to military air strikes and clashes between resistance and army groups.”

A few hours after the earthquake, the army carried out air strikes in the northern Shan state areas, according to local media reports.

The government of national unity, a government that has been composed of former members of the Aung San Suu party, said on Saturday that it would “stop for two weeks” in the offensive military activity in the areas affected by the earthquake.

He added that he will cooperate with United Nations agencies and international relief groups “to provide immediate assistance in emergency and medical support”, including in the areas controlled by JUNTA “if safety guarantees are provided.”

Additional reports from Chris Kai in Mumbai