The disaster comes in the midst of four years of civil war, which is significantly complicating the rescue and humanitarian efforts. The WHO reports that rescue operations face “significant obstacles including damaged roads, collapsed bridges, unstable communications and complexities related to the civil conflict.”
In February 2021, the armed forces of Myanmar (Tatmadaw) deposed the elected government, and violently repressed subsequent protests. Since then, 50,000 people have died, and millions have been displaced, in a devastating conflict between the military junta ( and armed civilian resistance. Twenty million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the earthquake hit.
Now, in areas controlled by the military, it is extremely challenging to reach communities affected by the quake. One local peacebuilder tells us, “There are clashes between the military and the People’s Defense Forces in those areas. Some […] areas are therefore not reached by the international rescue teams or international organisations. These areas are often hit by airstrikes from the military and they are the most severely affected by earthquakes.”
The junta also controls how international assistance is distributed, which is making it increasingly difficult for international organisations to reach those in need. The UN have confirmed “consistent reports of aid being blocked.”
That’s why it’s vital to support local peacebuilders directly.
Unlike international organisations, they can navigate these barriers and ensure lifesaving assistance reaches those who need it most. Local peacebuilders can use their existing relationships with local people, and their detailed knowledge of the conflict, to access isolated communities that international organisations can’t reach, and avoid military control of the assistance they provide.
But they – and the rest of Myanmar’s civil society – need more support. Even before the earthquake, there wasn’t enough funding for humanitarian efforts in Myanmar. Recent funding cuts have taken their toll, as one million people lost access to food just two weeks before the earthquake hit. Now, as needs grow, we must increase solidarity with local communities in Myanmar.
We must support local peacebuilders.
