India Emerges as Key Player in Myanmar Earthquake Humanitarian Response: UN

India has emerged as a crucial player in the humanitarian response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, offering swift and significant assistance that has greatly enhanced relief efforts, according to a UN official.

The disaster has damaged infrastructure across 58 of Myanmar’s 330 townships(Reuters)

In an interview with PTI Videos, Sajjad Mohammad Sajid, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Myanmar, commended India’s prompt deployment of resources through Operation Rama. This operation delivered over 1,000 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies, and field hospital support, within days of the disaster.

Myanmar was struck by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28.

"The early deployment of resources and facilities helped a lot of people, particularly in urban areas of Mandalay," Sajid mentioned that India also dispatched a 200-member search and rescue team along with medical personnel to aid the regions most affected.

Sajid emphasized that setting up a field hospital in Mandalay has been especially vital, given that many local hospitals and operating theaters are still not operational, and access to trauma care is extremely limited.

"This field hospital is playing a very critical role in a situation where infrastructure is still recovering," he said.

The earthquake, which struck near Mandalay, has caused widespread devastation, leaving at least 3,500 people confirmed dead, 5,000 injured, and 200 still unaccounted for, according to the latest reports.

UN officials have estimated that more than 17 million people have been affected, with 9 million experiencing the most intense tremors.

The disaster has severely damaged infrastructure across 58 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, worsening the challenges created by internal conflict and logistical issues, including damaged roads, bridges, and airports.

Sajid emphasized the ongoing collaboration between OCHA and Indian authorities, involving direct communication with the Indian Embassy and regular consultations through the Humanitarian Donor Group.

"We are in touch with member states, including India, and I do expect that India will play a very pivotal role in rebuilding the life and livelihood of people in Myanmar, which will require long-term support," he said.

He also highlighted India’s expertise in post-disaster reconstruction, referencing the successful recovery efforts after the earthquakes in Gujarat and Kashmir.

"India has some best practices which it can share with Myanmar as well, and being a neighbouring country with historical ties, its role will be crucial," Sajid emphasised.

Operation Brahma

India has initiated 'Operation Brahma' to support Myanmar during this crisis.

Logistical hurdles, including damaged bridges and regulated traffic, are significantly delaying aid distribution.

In Mandalay, where Sajid is currently based, residents continue to sleep on the streets, fearing aftershocks, as over 1,000 tremors have been recorded since the initial earthquake.

The collapse of a newly constructed bridge connecting Mandalay and Sagain has further hampered relief efforts, though the older bridge remains in use with strict load restrictions.

Financially, the UN and its partners are racing to secure funds for both immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts.

OCHA has already allocated USD 5 million for life-saving assistance, with an additional USD 17 million through its pooled fund mechanism.

However, Sajid cautioned that the full financial requirement for rehabilitation and reconstruction will be clarified by the end of the week, with early estimates indicating a substantial increase in funding is required.

Myanmar’s 2025 humanitarian response plan, which aimed for USD 1.1 billion, is currently only 5% funded, exacerbating the crisis for over 20 million people already in urgent need of aid.

(This Article was originally published by Hindustan Times)