The number of deaths in the Myanmar earthquake rises to approximately 700: live updates

Myanmar was cut by the United States and many other western countries in 2021, after the army seized power and imposed a brutal campaign. Even before the coup, the country was under the imposition of sanctions over decades, the last of which was due to the organized violence against the Rohingya minority.

Western sanctions include motivation for humanitarian aid, and the United Nations said on Friday that it paved help for the needy. But in a country where the civil war was exposed, the major logistical obstacles are still in obtaining aid for the people most of them need.

Michael Martin, a non -resident colleague at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that international relief workers in reaching affected areas is one issue.

Dr. Martin, who was the former Myanmar analyst to serve Congress, said that there is a risk that the army would prevent relief workers from reaching the rebel -controlled areas, or would slow down the delivery of aid, including re -mobilizing them as if it were military institutions instead of international institutions. He added that the army can prevent relief workers from obtaining visas or delay treatment times.

Although many international relief organizations were established on the principle that the delivery of aid should not be political, in practice, not always possible. Dr. Martin said that the army “may try to direct more assistance to the areas that are named under its control” from the areas with the control of the opposition forces.

When an earthquake measured 7.8 the size of the northwestern Syria region two years ago, under Bashar al -Assad’s repressive regime, A little international aid I arrived in the area directly. Some survivors had to dig through the rubble by hand, as the government restricted what happened in the opposition -controlled areas.

In Myanmar, the army ruled in the form of most time since 1962; Even during the limited liberation periods, the armed forces remained a major political force. Most of that time, the country restricts contacts with the outside world.

Another case may transfer money to Myanmar, whether through the banks managed by approval on channels or other channels, and the logistics of access to the right areas.

“Providing humanitarian aid will be very complicated,” said Dr. Dercon. “Humanitarian operations are basically logistical operations, and they need cooperation from many people.”

He said another case is to raise the necessary funds. He said that, given that Myanmar is isolated from the West, it is unlikely that there is a large waiting list for international Western donors.

Dr. Martin also said that it was not clear to what extent would the US government help, given the Trump administration’s hostility to external aid programs and major discounts to the US International Development Agency.