Myanmar Junta Must Halt Airstrikes, Commit Military Resources to Quake Operations

It is heartening to see Myanmar’s neighbors including India, China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia sending search-and-rescue teams and delivering aid to the earthquake-devastated country. Washington’s cuts to USAID’s budget couldn’t have come at a worse time, however, with war refugees and now earthquake victims in need of assistance.

The good news is that the UK and the US (despite the gutting of USAID) have pledged US$12.9 million and $2 million respectively to Myanmar. We earnestly hope the assistance will go to the needy, not into the pockets of INGOs and junta proxies.

The death toll continues to rise from the powerful earthquake, now standing at over 1,600, with over 3,500 people injured and hundreds still missing.