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[Joint Statement] Civil society calls for disaster relief for earthquake survivors and affected communities in Myanmar

30 March 2025

Press Statement: Civil society calls for disaster relief for earthquake survivors and affected communities in Myanmar

Aid agencies must ensure relief is not exploited by the military junta

We—the undersigned 265 Myanmar, regional, and international civil society organizations—express our deepest sorrow for communities across Myanmar and Thailand devastated by the earthquake on 28 March 2025. As Myanmar faces yet another humanitarian crisis amidst the military junta’s intensifying campaign of terror against the Myanmar people, it is imperative that the international community immediately mobilize resources and direct disaster emergency relief to survivors and affected communities of the earthquake. This must be channeled through local community groups and frontline responders in collaboration with the National Unity Government (NUG), Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), and civil society. We emphasize that these disaster relief efforts, through any implementing partners, must not be exploited, manipulated, or weaponized by the military junta for its political and military gain.

The earthquake on Friday—a severe 7.7 magnitude and the region’s most devastating in nearly seven decades—has caused over 2,500 confirmed deaths[1] and left communities across Myanmar shattered, homes and religious infrastructure destroyed, and tens of thousands of lives in peril. With hospitals overwhelmed, roads and bridges collapsed, and aftershocks threatening further destruction, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance is crucial. Areas hit by the earthquake include Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe, and Bago Regions, eastern and southern Shan State, and Naypyidaw. Most of these areas are under the effective control and administration of the NUG, EROs, and People’s Defense Forces. In affected areas under its control as well as under the resistance’s control, the junta will attempt to weaponize aid to attack and leverage gains over the resistance movement. Myanmar’s history provides stark warnings about the dangers of channeling aid through the military junta.

During Cyclone Nargis in 2008, the then military regime cynically weaponized disaster relief efforts to manipulate results of its sham referendum. International aid was obstructed from entering the country and withheld from desperate survivors to coerce their favorable vote for the military-drafted constitution in exchange for aid—all measures employed to secure its control and meddling in politics. Many local volunteers from the democratic movement were arrested and imprisoned by the regime for attempting to deliver assistance. This heavily delayed critical assistance and caused masses of civilian casualties. Once aid was finally allowed into Myanmar, the military regime and their officials diverted and misused it for personal and political gain, including benefiting constituencies with ties to the regime. This is but one example of the Myanmar military’s grotesque manipulation of human suffering for consolidation of political power and personal profit.

The military’s pattern of aid exploitation persists today, as evidenced by the junta’s obstruction and manipulation of relief efforts in response to recent natural disasters, namely Cyclone Mocha in 2023 and Typhoon Yagi in 2024, and its relentless commission of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against civilians across the country. Even after the earthquake on Friday, the military junta repeatedly bombed civilian areas in Chaung U Township in Sagaing Region, Phyu Township in Bago Region, and Naung Cho Township in northern Shan State—areas under its illegitimate declaration of state of emergency for natural disaster management. Earlier this month, the junta had already shut down seven private hospitals in Mandalay following an accusation of their employment of healthcare professionals from the Civil Disobedience Movement, severely limiting healthcare capacity in Mandalay, now torn by the earthquake. Against this backdrop, the junta has systematically imposed years-long internet and phone line shutdowns, coupled with an aggressive crackdown on VPN usage, significantly restricting the flow of information about the devastation inside Myanmar and hindering emergency response efforts. The junta’s callous contempt for human life, even in the face of widespread earthquake devastation, underscores its unsuitability to oversee aid—and more importantly, its willingness to manipulate any humanitarian response.

At this critical time, we welcome the NUG’s announcement of a two-week pause in its offensive military operations in earthquake-affected areas, effective today. However, the military junta has continued dropping bombs in earthquake-affected Pauk Township, Magwe Region, as recently as this morning. We look to the UN’s and ASEAN’s facilitation to ensure the junta ceases all military offensives, especially the immediate halt of ongoing airstrikes.

As communities across Myanmar mobilize to support one another amidst the devastation, we call on United Nations agencies, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), neighboring countries, international organizations, and the wider international community to collaborate directly with Myanmar’s legitimate stakeholders—namely the NUG and EROs—and civil society to ensure aid is not obstructed, manipulated, or weaponized by the junta. Aid can and must reach earthquake survivors and affected communities without delay through border-based channels which have proven the most effective. The NUG’s swift activation of the Emergency Operation Coordination Committees following the earthquake exemplifies its readiness and capacity to lead relief efforts in collaboration with ethnic and community partners. We commend the prompt and impactful responses to this disaster, particularly through crowd-funding efforts, including by the NUG and Myanmar Earthquake Response Coordination Unit comprised of Myanmar civil society organizations, which have already provided essential support to affected communities.

We once again remind the international community, particularly aid agencies, that humanitarian assistance must be guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, do no harm, and operational independence. The UN Country Team must fully embody these principles in their action, remembering the hard lessons learned from past engagements on aid with the military junta and past military regimes. Disaster response to this latest catastrophe must prioritize collaboration with stakeholders who demonstrably value the lives, safety and well-being of the Myanmar people—the NUG, EROs, and civil society—while actively preventing the junta from obstructing or exploiting aid delivery. Failure to do so will deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis and guarantee further abuses by an illegal body notorious for its active destruction of human lives.

We urge the UN, neighboring countries, and the wider international community to remember Myanmar’s painful history of the military’s manipulation of aid in times of natural disasters, and act resolutely to protect affected and vulnerable communities from exploitation and further suffering. The people of Myanmar deserve aid that alleviates suffering—not aid weaponized against them.

For more information, please contact:

 

Signed by 265 civil society organizations, including 7 organizations that have chosen not to disclose their name.

  1. #MilkTeaAlliance Calendar Team
  2. #MilkTeaAlliance Friends of Myanmar
  3. 5/ of Zaya State Strike
  4. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
  5. A-Yar-Taw People Strike
  6. Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
  7. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
  8. All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
  9. All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
  10. All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
  11. Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI)
  12. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
  13. ALTSEAN-Burma
  14. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
  15. Anti-junta Forces Coordination Committee (AFCC -Mandalay)
  16. Arakan Rohingya National Union (ARNU)
  17. ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People’s Forum Philippines Process
  18. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
  19. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
  20. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  21. Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD)
  22. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
  23. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
  24. Association of Spring Rainbow (ASR)
  25. Association Suisse-Birmanie
  26. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
  27. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
  28. Auckland Zomi Community
  29. Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
  30. Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
  31. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
  32. Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
  33. Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS)
  34. Burma Action Ireland
  35. Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
  36. Burma Canadian Network
  37. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
  38. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
  39. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
  40. Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
  41. Campaign for a New Myanmar
  42. Campaign for Popular Democracy
  43. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
  44. Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
  45. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
  46. Chin Community in Norway
  47. Chin Community of Auckland
  48. Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
  49. Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
  50. Civil Information Network (CIN)
  51. Civil Rights Defenders (CRD)
  52. Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
  53. Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
  54. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
  55. Community Resource Centre
  56. Creative Home (CH)
  57. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
  58. CRPH Funding Ireland
  59. CRPH Support Group, Norway and members organizations
  60. Daung Sitthe Strike
  61. Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
  62. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
  63. Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD)
  64. Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization (DEMO)
  65. Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
  66. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
  67. Depayin Women Strike
  68. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
  69. Educational Initiatives Prague
  70. Emergency Management Committee – Mandalay
  71. Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
  72. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
  73. ETOs Watch Coalition
  74. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
  75. Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
  76. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) (FBC (SA))
  77. Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC)
  78. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
  79. From Singapore to Myanmar (FS2M)
  80. Gangaw Women Strike
  81. Gender Equality Network (GEN)
  82. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
  83. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
  84. General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB)
  85. Generation Wave (GW)
  86. Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities (GSCN)
  87. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
  88. Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF)
  89. Human Rights Educators Network (HREN)
  90. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
  91. Human Rights Working Group
  92. India for Myanmar
  93. Industries Strike
  94. Info Birmanie
  95. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
  96. Inter Pares
  97. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
  98. International Campaign for the Rohingya
  99. International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net)
  100. International Peace Bureau
  101. Italia-Birmania
  102. Jubilee Campaign
  103. Justice & Equality Focus (JEF)
  104. Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
  105. Justice Movement for Community-Innlay
  106. K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
  107. Kachin Association Norway
  108. Kachin Legal Aid Group (KLAG)
  109. Kachin State Civilian Movement
  110. Kachin Student Union
  111. Kachin Women Association Thailand (KWAT)
  112. Kalay Township Strike Force
  113. Kalay Women Strike
  114. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
  115. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
  116. Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
  117. Karenni Society New Zealand Overseas Mon Association. New Zealand
  118. Keng Tung Youth
  119. Kontras
  120. Kyae Lak Myay
  121. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
  122. Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
  123. La Communauté Birmane de France
  124. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
  125. LGBT Alliance
  126. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
  127. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
  128. LGBT Community Yangon
  129. LGBT Union – Mandalay
  130. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
  131. Magway Region Human Rights Network
  132. Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
  133. Mandalar University Students’ Strike
  134. Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
  135. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
  136. Mandalay Regional Youth Association – Revolution Core Group
  137. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
  138. Mandalay Women Strike
  139. Mandalay Youth Strike
  140. Mandalay-based People’s Strike
  141. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
  142. MayMyo Strike Force
  143. Mekong Watch
  144. Milk Tea Alliance Thailand
  145. Minority Affairs Institute
  146. Monywa LGBT Strike
  147. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
  148. Monywa Women Strike
  149. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
  150. Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
  151. Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia
  152. Multi-Religions Strike
  153. Muslim Youth Network
  154. Mya Taung Strike
  155. Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP)
  156. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
  157. Myanmar anti-military coup movement in New Zealand
  158. Myanmar Campaign Network (Australia)
  159. Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
  160. Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand
  161. Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand
  162. Myanmar Community in Italy
  163. Myanmar Community in Norway
  164. Myanmar Emergency Fund – Canada
  165. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
  166. Myanmar Global Support Foundation
  167. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
  168. Myanmar Hindu Union
  169. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
  170. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
  171. Myanmar Labour News
  172. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
  173. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
  174. Myaung Youth Network
  175. MyaYar Knowledge Tree
  176. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
  177. Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand
  178. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
  179. Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
  180. New Myanmar Foundation (NMF)
  181. New Zealand Campaign for Myanmar
  182. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
  183. New Zealand Karen Association
  184. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
  185. NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
  186. No Business With Genocide
  187. 12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
  188. North Dagon & East Dagon News
  189. Norway Matu Community
  190. Norway Rvwang Community
  191. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
  192. OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
  193. Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU)
  194. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
  195. Politics for Women Myanmar
  196. Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
  197. Progressive Voice (PV)
  198. Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
  199. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
  200. Queers of Burma Alternative (QBA)
  201. Rainbows Talk
  202. Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
  203. Rohingya Community in Norway
  204. Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)
  205. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
  206. Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
  207. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
  208. Save the Natural Resource (SaNaR)
  209. Seinpann Strike
  210. Shan Community (New Zealand)
  211. Shan MATA
  212. Shwe Pan Kone People`s Strike Steering Committee
  213. Sisters 2 Sisters
  214. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
  215. Solidarity for People’s Education and Lifelong Learning
  216. Southern Initiative
  217. Southern Youth Development Organization
  218. Stop the War Coalition Philippines
  219. Sujata Sisters Group (NZ)
  220. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (NL)
  221. Swedish Burma Committee
  222. Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
  223. Taze Strike Committee
  224. Taze Women Strike
  225. Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
  226. Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
  227. Thayat Chaung Women Strike
  228. The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
  229. The Ladies Organization
  230. The Mekong Butterfly
  231. Think Centre, Singapore
  232. Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
  233. S. Campaign for Burma
  234. Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA
  235. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
  236. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
  237. Volunteers in Myanmar
  238. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
  239. Wetlet Township Women Strike
  240. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
  241. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
  242. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
  243. Women for Justice
  244. Women Lead Resource Center (WLRC)
  245. Women Peace Network (WPN)
  246. Women’s Organization Of Political Prisoners (WOPP)
  247. Women’s Peace Network (WPN)
  248. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
  249. Yangon Deaf Group
  250. Yangon Women Strike
  251. Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
  252. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
  253. Youth Empowerment
  254. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
  255. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
  256. Zomi Community Norway
  257. စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်းဒေသ သပိတ်အင်အားစု
  258. ယိမ်းနွဲ့ပါး
  259. သမိုင်းသယ်ဆောင်သူများ

 

[1] Statistics by Myanmar Earthquake Response Coordination Unit, a local coordination group

This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.