Myanmar Junta Faces Backlash Over Aid Blockages and Airstrikes Amid Earthquake Crisis

New Delhi: Myanmar’s military government is facing intensified criticism over allegations that it is blocking humanitarian aid to earthquake survivors while continuing airstrikes in conflict zones. International agencies have urged the junta to allow “unfettered access” to relief efforts in the wake of the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday, killing more than 2,700 people and leaving thousands in urgent need of food, water, and medical supplies.

Aid Confiscated, Emergency Response Stifled

Doctors and aid workers on the ground have accused the junta of obstructing emergency assistance in severely affected areas such as Mandalay and Sagaing.

“Some of the supplies of aid, well most of it, was not given to the people who need it. In some areas in Mandalay, the aid did not arrive. The aid was confiscated by the military junta,” said Dr. Nang Win, an Australia-based doctor coordinating emergency response efforts.

Dr. Nang also described how emergency relief efforts were being deliberately delayed, with local authorities skimming aid before it reached those in need. One medical worker in Mandalay reportedly signed paperwork for $1,000 in aid but received only $100 worth of supplies, with the rest allegedly diverted to the black market.

Military Blocks Rescuers, Demands Permits

Since Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup in February 2021, it has been locked in a violent civil war against ethnic resistance groups. Over the past year, the junta has suffered major territorial losses, now controlling less than 30% of the country but retaining its grip over the largest cities.

In regions outside the junta’s control, military forces have been accused of preventing rescue teams from delivering aid.

“If a group of rescuers comes and says we want to enter, especially in Sagaing, they will not let you. They will say you need a permit, and once you get a permit, it is too late,” Dr. Nang said.

Dr. Tun Aung Shwe, an Australian representative of Myanmar’s exiled opposition National Unity Government (NUG), echoed similar concerns, stating that the junta was using military checkpoints to block medical aid from reaching opposition-held territories.

“Outside of the major cities, the military already checks and then tries to block the flow of aid,” he said, adding that local communities were forced to find alternative routes to deliver supplies.

Airstrikes Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Even as the country struggles to cope with the disaster, the junta has continued its military offensives.

The Karen National Union (KNU), one of Myanmar’s oldest ethnic resistance groups, accused the military of carrying out airstrikes in civilian areas despite the devastation caused by the earthquake.

International observers, including Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, condemned the military’s actions.

“Instead of focusing every ounce of energy, attention, and resources on saving lives, the junta is taking lives. That’s the first thing. Secondly, there have been consistent reports of aid being blocked, of aid workers being denied access at checkpoints,” Andrews stated.

On Monday night, reports emerged of airstrikes in Singu Township, Mandalay region, and Nawnghkio township in Shan State, underscoring the junta’s continued military aggression.

A History of Neglect

Human rights organizations have criticized the junta’s response, drawing comparisons to its past failures in disaster management.

Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, urged the military to allow aid deliveries, stating:

“Myanmar’s military junta still invokes fear, even in the wake of a horrific natural disaster that killed and injured thousands. The junta needs to break from its appalling past practice and ensure that humanitarian aid quickly reaches those whose lives are at risk in earthquake-affected areas.”

Former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar Scot Marciel also pointed to the military’s poor track record in handling crises, recalling its restrictive policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and its initial rejection of international aid after Cyclone Nargis in 2008, a disaster that killed nearly 140,000 people.

“Their history shows that they basically are willing to stand by and let lots of suffering and even death happen, if not inflicting it themselves, rather than do anything that might risk their power position,” Marciel said.

International Pressure Mounts

As Myanmar reels from the deadliest earthquake in its recent history, global pressure is growing on the junta to prioritize humanitarian relief over military control. However, with reports of blocked aid, restricted access for rescuers, and ongoing airstrikes, the country’s crisis is deepening, leaving thousands vulnerable to preventable suffering and loss of life.