Relief efforts in earthquake-stricken Myanmar faced additional hurdles over the weekend as rainfall began soaking affected regions, intensifying health concerns and complicating aid distribution. Humanitarian agencies warned that the wet conditions could accelerate the spread of disease and delay shelter delivery for thousands left homeless by the devastating March 28 quake.
According to official reports, the death toll has surged to 3,471, with at least 4,671 people injured and 214 individuals still unaccounted for. Many families continue to sleep in open areas beside the rubble of their homes, exposed to the elements and trauma, as emergency crews search for missing persons.
On the ground, United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher expressed alarm over the dire conditions. “Families are sleeping outdoors while their loved ones are pulled from debris,” he posted on social media platform X. “The fear of aftershocks is real. We urgently need more tents, more support, and coordinated action to restore some hope for the survivors.”
Several neighboring countries—including China, India, and members of ASEAN—have stepped in with aid shipments and rescue teams. The affected areas, home to nearly 28 million people, are struggling with damaged infrastructure, widespread displacement, and the need for swift reconstruction planning.
The United States, once a leading global humanitarian donor, has pledged at least $9 million in assistance. However, internal issues within the U.S. foreign aid apparatus appear to be slowing its response. According to former senior USAID official Marcia Wong, three U.S. Agency for International Development workers recently deployed to Myanmar were abruptly informed of their job terminations, a move she described as deeply demoralizing. “They’re doing critical work and to receive news of dismissal during a crisis—it’s incredibly disheartening,” she told Reuters.
Meanwhile, Thailand, Myanmar’s neighbor to the east, reported that its own casualties from the quake have reached 24, including 17 deaths at a collapsed skyscraper construction site in Bangkok. An additional 77 people remain missing. With conditions continuing to deteriorate in multiple locations, regional cooperation and international support remain crucial to preventing further tragedy.