Myanmar: UN chief calls for urgent access as quake toll mounts

The UN chief on Thursday called for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to Myanmar, where last week’s devastating earthquakes claimed over 3,000 lives and left millions in urgent need of aid.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the earthquake has “supercharged the suffering”.

“Myanmar today is the scene of utter devastation and desperation,” he said.

He emphasised that even before the disaster, the country was grappling with political turmoil, human rights abuses and a worsening humanitarian situation.

“We need rapid action on several fronts,” he said.