The civilian-led National Unity Government (NUG), and its armed wing the People’s Defence Force (PDF), stated that it is carrying out relief efforts in areas under its control after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on March 28, according to the NUG Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
“The magnitude of this loss for our country is immeasurable. So many precious lives have been lost far too soon, causing massive destruction across the country,” Duwa Lashi La, the NUG Acting President, stated in a televised speech on March 29.
“I earnestly appeal to our allied ethnic revolutionary organizations and civil society groups to extend their support to those in need,” he added.
Khampat, Mawlu, Pinlebu and Shwe Pyi Aye in Sagaing Region, as well as Singu, Tagaung and Thabeikkyin in Mandalay Region, along with Myothit in Magway Region, are under NUG control with security provided by the PDF.
The NUG offered its assistance to the international community in delivering cross-border emergency humanitarian aid to survivors of the earthquake in areas under regime control if the safety of healthcare professionals can be guaranteed by the regime in Naypyidaw.
“It is essential that the support goes directly to the affected individuals, and I want to assure you that the National Unity Government, along with all revolutionary forces, is fully prepared to work together to make that happen,” said Duwa Lashi La.
The NUG added that an initial $1 million USD has been allocated by its ministry for emergency rescue and relief operations across the country, with the response already underway in NUG-controlled towns in central Myanmar.
It announced a two-week pause in PDF military operations against regime forces, except in defence of regime attacks, starting March 30.
Two residents of Kamma town in Pakokku Township of Magway Region were killed in an attack by regime piloted motorized paragliders on Friday. “It was just one hour before the earthquake struck,” a Kamma resident told DVB. Kamma is located 119 miles (192 km) northwest of the region’s capital Magway.
The Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) reported that seven of its members were killed by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Kangyi village of Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State, 30 minutes after the earthquake on March 28. Nawnghkio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of the region’s capital Lashio.
The PDF in Chaung-U Township of Sagaing Region reported that regime motorized paragliders struck again, carrying out two attacks seven hours after the earthquake. But there were no casualties reported by the PDF. Chaung-U is located 16 miles (25 km) south of the region’s capital Monywa.
The Three Brotherhood Alliance, composed of the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), stated it would send humanitarian aid to help earthquake relief and recovery efforts.
“With bridges destroyed, even aid from Mandalay is struggling to get through,” an anti-regime legislative body in Sagaing Region called the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw shared on social media Sunday. Sagaing was the epicenter of the earthquake on Friday. It added that food and medicine are urgently needed for survivors.
The Ava Bridge, which connects Mandalay to Sagaing Region collapsed during the earthquake. Another bridge was damaged and is closed indefinitely, according to residents. Travel between the two regions can only be done via the Irrawaddy River.
“Damage to the Yangon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay expressway led to service disruptions, with cracks and surface distortions forcing highway buses to halt operations,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated in an update on March 29.
The NUG announced that 30 roads and seven bridges were badly damaged or destroyed across the country. The regime updated the death toll to at least 1,644 with 3,408 injured by the earthquake as of March 29.
