International: The devastating aftermath of the powerful earthquake in Myanmar continues to unfold, with the confirmed death toll now tragically exceeding 3,471. The already dire situation is being severely aggravated by relentless rainfall, significantly hindering ongoing rescue operations and sparking serious anxieties about potential disease outbreaks among the vulnerable survivor population.
Reports emerging from Mandalay, a major city situated near the earthquake’s epicentre, paint a grim picture as aid workers from Al Jazeera detailed how overnight downpours and strong winds have ravaged makeshift tent encampments. Survivors and their meager belongings have been left soaked, adding another layer of hardship to their already precarious circumstances.
Relief organizations are increasingly concerned that the confluence of unseasonal heavy rains and the region’s extreme heat could create ideal breeding grounds for waterborne diseases like cholera. Al Jazeera highlighted the fears that those residing in temporary shelters are particularly susceptible to such outbreaks, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake inflicted widespread devastation across a significant portion of Myanmar, a nation of 50 million people. Six regions and states, including the capital Naypyidaw, have suffered extensive damage. Al Jazeera’s reporting indicates that the seismic event disrupted essential infrastructure, crippling power, telephone, and mobile networks, and rendering roads and bridges impassable, making a comprehensive assessment of the destruction incredibly challenging. This catastrophe has also intensified the pre-existing humanitarian crisis stemming from Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, which had already displaced over three million individuals and left nearly 20 million in need of assistance, according to United Nations figures cited by Al Jazeera.
The military-led state media has provided a stark overview of the earthquake’s impact, confirming the staggering loss of 3,471 lives and reporting 4,671 injuries, with 214 individuals still unaccounted for. The scale of destruction to infrastructure is immense, with over 5,200 buildings, 1,800 schools, 4,800 pagodas and temples, 167 hospitals and clinics, 169 bridges, 198 dams, and 184 sections of the country’s main highway sustaining damage.
Amidst the widespread devastation, relief efforts are intensifying, with India actively participating in the humanitarian response under the banner of Operation Brahma. Demonstrating its commitment to assisting its neighbor, India delivered a substantial consignment of 442 tonnes of food aid to the disaster-stricken nation on Friday as part of its ongoing support.
This latest delivery brings India’s total contribution of humanitarian relief materials under Operation Brahma to an impressive 625 metric tonnes. Furthermore, India has deployed a contingent of 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), including four specially trained canines, to assist with on-the-ground rescue operations. Adding to India’s crucial support, its field hospital established in Myanmar has been widely commended for its efforts, having already provided medical treatment to 800 patients as of Sunday, according to information released by the Indian Embassy in Myanmar.
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