On Friday, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake impacted much of Southeast Asia with a death toll climbing up to 2,056 and 3,900 people reported injured. Even a total collapse of a building 600 miles away in Bangkok was the result of this dangerous earthquake. Having never experienced anything like this, Myanmar has been receiving help from the International Rescue Committee for support. There is a staggering scale of humanitarian needs from this aftermath and the IRC has been furiously trying to distribute water, hygiene kits and critical medical assistance for struggling residents. Staff members of IRC have reported many sleeping outside their homes on roads or fields due to the fear of aftershocks. With 80% of buildings destroyed in some towns and many hospitals overwhelmed with trauma cases it is going to be a while before the areas affected by the earthquake can get back on their feet.
International teams from China and Russia have already been responding to the situation in Myanmar. With more than 400 Chinese personnel now on the ground, they arrived almost 18 hours after the earthquake. Even Beijing has sent planes filled with $14 million worth of supplies. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar has offered up to $2 million to address the humanitarian needs calling it the United States’ “immediate response” to the disaster. I think we are really lucky to have the privilege of not needing to worry about finding a safe place to sleep or if we can get a bed at the hospital. This really makes you think about how insignificant most of our problems are in comparison to what other people are going through right now.
For Updates on the Situation go to: Myanmar-Thailand earthquake live updates
1 comment:
This earthquake is truly heartbreaking, and it shows how quickly life can change. Seeing so many people lose their homes, loved ones, and even access to basic needs like water and medical care is devastating.
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