The Myanmar military junta faces renewed scrutiny following a recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake that intensified existing pressures on the country’s healthcare system. As reported by Human Rights Watch (HRW), years of military-led assaults have left 2 million people in dire need of medical assistance. The earthquake, which resulted in over 10,000 fatalities, has highlighted the systemic deficiencies in healthcare that have been exacerbated by the junta’s actions since their rise to power in 2021.
HRW alleges that the junta has been involved in the arrests of over 872 healthcare workers, attacks on 263 medical facilities, and the deaths of 74 medical staff, severely hampering the ability of hospitals to provide vital care. Nearly 1,200 attacks on facilities and personnel have been documented over the past three years, as healthcare workers have reportedly been targeted for tending to protesters. This hostile environment has driven over 70 percent of health professionals to flee the country, leaving those remaining to work under perilous circumstances, often without pay or security, as noted in a report by Insecurity Insight.
The earthquake has compounded the crisis, depriving displaced families of basic necessities such as water, shelter, and medicine, with many forced to sleep outdoors in soaring temperatures, vulnerable to disease outbreaks and snakebites. Meanwhile, as international pressure mounts, reports indicate that the junta has been obstructing international aid efforts. A Guardian report outlines how the junta is accused of intercepting supplies meant for opposition-controlled areas, further complicating the humanitarian response.
Additional challenges have arisen due to new import regulations, which now mandate pharmaceutical importers to produce export earnings evidence before receiving necessary authorizations. This has nullified 716 permits vital for Myanmar’s import-reliant medical system, according to The Irrawaddy. Amidst these developments, the United Nations has called for increased funding to aid response efforts, which are currently severely underfunded.
The UN and HRW are advocating for the international community to apply pressure on the junta to cease its attacks and allow unencumbered humanitarian aid delivery. HRW is urging action from the UN Security Council to ensure compliance with international human rights obligations, which strictly prohibit violations against the rights to life, health, and shelter, even during armed conflict.
The ongoing situation emphasizes the profound impact of the Myanmar junta’s policies on the country’s health infrastructure and the urgent need for international intervention to assist the afflicted population.