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Friday, Apr 04, 2025
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EU Initiates Humanitarian Airlift to Myanmar Following Earthquake Disaster
Emergency operation delivers critical supplies as casualties rise amid ongoing conflict.
Brussels – The European Union has initiated a humanitarian airlift operation to deliver 80 tons of emergency supplies to Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar and the epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on March 28. The inaugural flight, carrying tents, health, water, and sanitation kits, departed from Copenhagen today destined for Yangon, where the supplies will be handed over to UNICEF.
The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated rapidly, with over 2,700 confirmed casualties reported following the earthquake.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has forecast that the death toll could escalate to as high as 10,000.
The earthquake-affected regions are home to approximately half of Myanmar's 3.5 million internally displaced persons, a result of four years of civil strife that has precipitated a severe food crisis and significantly hampered economic conditions in the country.
According to Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator for Myanmar, nearly 20 million individuals were already in need of humanitarian assistance prior to the earthquake.
In light of these circumstances, the urgency for effective distribution of aid has intensified.
On the ground, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an armed group opposing the military junta since the coup in 2021, has condemned the Burmese army for an attack on a convoy delivering humanitarian aid from the Chinese Red Cross.
The incident occurred on the night of March 28, despite the military being aware of the convoy's movements.
The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhoods Alliance, which includes the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
Following the earthquake, this coalition proposed a ceasefire; however, General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief, has stated that military operations will persist as “necessary protective measures.”
Calls for a cessation of hostilities have emerged from various international entities, including the United Nations and the European Union.
EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib urged all conflict parties in Myanmar to engage in an immediate ceasefire.
In response to the earthquake, Brussels has activated the Copernicus satellite service to assess the damage and has allocated €2.5 million in humanitarian aid, with plans to contribute an additional €500,000 to the emergency appeal issued by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Additionally, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), leading to the dispatch of a team of 12 European experts from Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Luxembourg, and Norway.
These experts are set to travel to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the upcoming days to coordinate emergency responses with on-ground partners.
The situation in Myanmar has deteriorated rapidly, with over 2,700 confirmed casualties reported following the earthquake.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has forecast that the death toll could escalate to as high as 10,000.
The earthquake-affected regions are home to approximately half of Myanmar's 3.5 million internally displaced persons, a result of four years of civil strife that has precipitated a severe food crisis and significantly hampered economic conditions in the country.
According to Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator for Myanmar, nearly 20 million individuals were already in need of humanitarian assistance prior to the earthquake.
In light of these circumstances, the urgency for effective distribution of aid has intensified.
On the ground, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an armed group opposing the military junta since the coup in 2021, has condemned the Burmese army for an attack on a convoy delivering humanitarian aid from the Chinese Red Cross.
The incident occurred on the night of March 28, despite the military being aware of the convoy's movements.
The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhoods Alliance, which includes the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).
Following the earthquake, this coalition proposed a ceasefire; however, General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief, has stated that military operations will persist as “necessary protective measures.”
Calls for a cessation of hostilities have emerged from various international entities, including the United Nations and the European Union.
EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib urged all conflict parties in Myanmar to engage in an immediate ceasefire.
In response to the earthquake, Brussels has activated the Copernicus satellite service to assess the damage and has allocated €2.5 million in humanitarian aid, with plans to contribute an additional €500,000 to the emergency appeal issued by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Additionally, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), leading to the dispatch of a team of 12 European experts from Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Luxembourg, and Norway.
These experts are set to travel to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the upcoming days to coordinate emergency responses with on-ground partners.
