Myanmar Struggles to Recover as Aftershock Rattles Quake-Stricken Region
A fresh aftershock in Mandalay deepens fears and complicates recovery efforts following the devastating March 28 earthquake that killed over 3,600 and displaced millions.
- A 5.5-magnitude aftershock struck Mandalay on April 13, prompting evacuations and heightening anxiety in the already devastated region.
- The March 28 earthquake destroyed over 5,200 buildings and left more than two million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN.
- Myanmar's Thingyan water festival, traditionally a time of celebration, is subdued this year under military-imposed restrictions and ongoing mourning for the earthquake's victims.
- Humanitarian aid efforts are severely strained, with the UN issuing an emergency plea for $275 million and the World Food Programme cutting aid to one million people due to funding shortages.
- The crisis is exacerbated by Myanmar's political instability, ongoing civil conflict, and military offensives, which hinder effective disaster recovery and aid delivery.