Myanmar people can’t take a break. Here is my appeal to the international community | Winning subtle of her

Two thoughts entered my head as soon as I saw it MyanmarMy country of origin had been struck by an earthquake: “They are all ok?”, Followed by “we can’t take a break”.

Fortunately, my loved ones turned out to be seriously shaken but physically ok. There were material losses but nothing compared to those that are many others passing through.

The earthquake of March 28 was both powerful and superficial, a combination that tends to unleash the devastation. But it is essential not to attribute exclusively the terrible and heartbreaking images and stories that descend from Myanmar, of people Using naked hands To save the trapped survivors e desperate reasons for medical assistance for the injured.

What is transforming this natural disaster into a full humanitarian crisis are the actions of the military junta that seized power in February 2021.

Over four years, I saw my country descend from a promising democracy, albeit imperfect, in a struggle with a “Deep polycycrisis“Even before the earthquake blow, half of the population lived below the poverty threshold, the currency lost 70% of its value and more than one person out of three needs assistance, according to the United Nations. Our health infrastructure is in pulled while infectious diseases have Go out.

In the meantime, the army was committed to terrorizing its citizens: Community bombings, Flame villages AND Cut communications.

So many of The areas most affected by the earthquakeLocated in the Buddhist heart of Sagaing and Mandalay, where my family used to go to regular pilgrimages, they were already highly vulnerable after four years of intense clashes and arrived under the junta regular bombing. Indeed Almost half of the unlined population of the Myanmar of 3.5 million They are in the areas affected by earthquake, which were the former main land recruitment land but are now a resistance stronghold.

These communities were further excavated while the young people fled to avoid the law of conscription and the groups of civil society forced the junta e private hospitals to close. These groups would normally be the first rescuers in natural catastrophes.

Communication and electricity blackouts have also made it difficult to establish the whole scale of damage in some areas. Without Internet access, local journalists have to rely on the irregular cell phone cover.

I am happy that the military have made a rare appeal for international help, unlike the consequences of Cyclone Nargis in 2008 or more recently in 2023 with Cyclone Mocha. But I have serious doubts about his will and ability Providing aid effectively and impartially, given its history of blocking aid and since some of the most affected areas are not under its control.

I think aid should not be conditioned or politicians, but they are not even naive. It is likely that the junta will take advantage of the latter tragedy to retract as legitimate government of Myanmar, will try to strengthen the myth which is the only institution that can keep the country together and obtain a wider support for his Next elections.

He has already shown the desire to have his cake and eat it: international aid Without the control of international journalistsciting travel and accommodation challenges. Having spent years of my first career to chase disasters in Southeast Asia, I know that these things do not discourage journalists.

The junta is illegitimate. Every time I have given the possibility, Myanmar people have repeatedly shown that they do not want military domain. I am happy that there is finally a certain international attention on Myanmar and I hope it is accompanied by substance, since the united nations assistance plans for Myanmar have been constantly painfully under -childhood. Worse, a significant part of the funds came from the United States, many of which have now gone disappeared After the Trump administration dismantling of Usaid.

Here is my appeal to the international community: please push the junta to reverse its fragile excuse for not allowing foreign journalists in the country, to honor the ceased the fire that has finally announced days after the pro-democracy groups committed to doing itTo stop air attacks of the type he has launched Hours after the earthquakeand Allow access without limits for aid and operators of aid.

Please do not rely on the Council alone to provide aid. Please work with a variety of actors, including local groups with access to some of the most disconnected areas. Volunteers on the ground are already worried about the spread of diseases if the corpses are not removed soon because the April showers usually accompany our new year, which will begin next Sunday.

Much was made of the resilience of the people of Myanmar in the face of endless misfortune, but I came to feel affected by the term. We are resilient because we had to be, because no one else came to our help.

We shouldn’t bear this alone. Myanmar needs tangible and supported support by the international community before this disaster supports even more lives.