Read the RFA cover of this subject in Burma.
Junta restrictions on help activities after a devastating 7.7 earthquake in the center of Myanmar have pushed some to postpone help efforts, although many communities have a critical need for support, volunteers at Radio Free Asia told volunteers.
JUNT authorities have been accused of blocked research and rescue teams and entry into the entry into the affected areas in the Sagain and Mandalay regions, as well as in the state of Shan, using security control points and strict recording requirements.
“They [aid groups] I can’t do anything. We are very upset that those who could help are treated like this. Now, it is just the public who takes care of each other, “said an official of a group of volunteers in Mandalay helping to resume the earthquake, refusing to be appointed for fear of reprisals.
“It doesn’t work for us, so we mean that we stopped.”
The Myanmar earthquake on March 28 killed more than 3,600 people and injured 5,000 others, with 148 people who were still missing, the junta said in a statement released on Tuesday evening.
The earthquake coincided with violent clashes between the groups of insurgents and the battalions of the junta which degenerated in the years which followed the coup d’etat of 2021, which forced the military to implement more strict policies on the growth of the reinsurous hot spots.
Another group based in Mandalay said they were prevented from working by regional authorities after the Junta vice-president, Major-General Soe Win, announced that the aid organizations should submit requests for prior approval.
Charitable organizations are also required to deliver basic supplies through the JUNTE regional authorities, the JUNTA Public Health Ministry said on Sunday, in a statement published on Sunday, to volunteer criticisms.
“If they want us to give it under them as they said, we can not give anything at all. We will only make a donation if we can do it ourselves,” said an official of another voluntary organization, refusing to be appointed for fear of reprisals.
More than 10 aid groups in the Sagain and Mandalay and Shan state regions have told RFA that they would be forced to temporarily stop their help.
A Mandalay resident has raised his concern that Junta’s actions can undermine assistance groups and bring international organizations to cancel their support for earthquakes if supplies cannot go to affected areas.
“My house collapsed. If I go to the community center for the basic items I need, I cannot get them as normal because the officers stole them,” he said.
“The government has not supported us at all, and I don’t know if more charity will continue to come from them.”
The junta has not published any additional information on restrictions.
He said on Saturday that this would prevent groups from entering the country for negative purposes by exploiting the earthquake. “
International groups have urged the junta to loosen the restrictions on the seizure of the earthquake -struck areas to allow a larger distribution of aid.
The FRG called Junta’s spokesperson, Major-General Zaw Min Tun for more information on restrictions, but he did not respond to the time of publication.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Tajun Kang.