Myanmar’s junta stated on Wednesday that its troops fired warning shots at a Chinese Red Cross aid convoy, highlighting the challenges of delivering relief amidst a civil war, as aid groups called for improved access to help earthquake survivors. The military has struggled to govern Myanmar since its 2021 coup against the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leading to the collapse of the economy and basic services, including healthcare, following the outbreak of civil war.
Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun reported that the Chinese Red Cross did not inform authorities of their presence in a conflict zone on Tuesday night, and security personnel fired shots into the air after the convoy, which included local vehicles, failed to halt. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed the safety of the aid team and supplies, urging all parties in Myanmar to ensure the security of rescuers. “It is essential to maintain open and unobstructed transportation routes for relief efforts,” Guo Jiakun stated at a press conference. A view shows debris after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025. — Reuters The shooting occurred as the death toll from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake rose to 2,886, with 4,639 injured, according to Myanmar state media. The International Crisis Group reported that rural areas of the heavily impacted Sagaing region are largely controlled by armed resistance groups opposing the military government. “They will be among the most difficult for aid agencies to reach, due to regime restrictions, complex local administrations and armed resistance control, and ongoing conflict,” it stated. Even before the earthquake, the ICG noted, information gathering from these areas was difficult due to junta-imposed internet and mobile phone network blackouts as part of the conflict. “Soldiers are present everywhere in the town,” a person who traveled to Sagaing told Reuters. “They are there for security, not rescue. They inspect every vehicle.” People gather near the debris of destroyed buildings during a rescue and search operation following a massive earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, in this still image from video released April 1, 2025. — Reuters New York-based Human Rights Watch urged the junta to grant unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and lift restrictions impeding aid agencies, recommending that donors channel aid through independent groups rather than solely through junta authorities. “Myanmar’s junta cannot be trusted to handle a disaster of this scale,” Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated in a report. “Concerned governments and international agencies must pressure the junta to allow full and immediate access to survivors, regardless of their location.” The military has dismissed accusations of widespread atrocities during its fight against the multi-faceted rebellion following the coup as misinformation. Rebels have accused the military of conducting airstrikes even after the earthquake, and a major rebel alliance declared a unilateral ceasefire on Tuesday to facilitate relief efforts. Millions Affected The United Nations reported that over 28 million people in the six affected regions require assistance, and it has allocated $12 million in emergency funding for food, shelter, water, sanitation, mental health support, and other services. Specialists, including members of Russia’s emergencies ministry, take part in a search operation following a massive earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, in this still image from video released April 1, 2025. — Reuters “The situation remains critical, with disrupted communications and road access hindering response efforts, particularly in Sagaing,” the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reported. Australia announced an additional A$6.5 million ($4.1 million) in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, to be distributed “through thoroughly vetted international and local partners.” Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on Wednesday, “We are taking proactive steps to ensure our assistance does not legitimize the military regime in Myanmar.” A woman in Mandalay, near the earthquake’s epicenter, informed Reuters that authorities were constructing a stage for the upcoming Thingyan water festival, despite many people being homeless and bodies remaining under collapsed buildings. The military council has denied international journalists access to cover the earthquake devastation, citing the lack of water, electricity, and hotels. In neighboring Thailand, the death toll from the earthquake rose to 22 on Wednesday, with hundreds of buildings damaged. Rescue workers operate at the site of a collapsed building, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 1, 2025. — Reuters The search for survivors in the rubble of a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok entered its fifth day, where 15 people died and 72 are missing. Officials announced that two dogs were reassigned to provide emotional support for the families of the missing. Children petted the golden retrievers wearing light-up vests in a temporary shelter, and others spoke to them softly. Chanpen Keawnoi, whose mother and younger sister are missing, stated that this brought a small sense of comfort. “They said as long as the dog continues to bark upon hearing a signal, there is still a chance someone could be alive,” she said. The government is investigating the collapse, and initial tests revealed that some steel samples from the site were substandard.
