Following the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar in late March 2025, international human rights groups have strongly condemned the Myanmar military for reportedly intensifying military operations in affected areas and obstructing relief efforts.
On 1 April 2025, Amnesty International issued a statement denouncing what it called “inhumane” military attacks in earthquake-affected zones, particularly in Sagaing Region, the disaster’s epicentre.
The organisation said the military had continued launching airstrikes, including new tactics involving manned motorised paragliders known as paramotor aircraft.
Joe Freeman, Amnesty’s Myanmar Researcher, stated, “You cannot ask for aid with one hand and bomb with the other. Carrying out air strikes and attacking civilians in the same region where the earthquake struck is inhumane and shows a blatant disregard for human rights.”
Amnesty also warned that despite an official appeal for international assistance, military checkpoints and surveillance in Sagaing had delayed or blocked the delivery of aid. Communication blackouts have further hindered relief coordination and assessments of the true scale of devastation.
Interviews conducted by Amnesty revealed dire local conditions. One rescue worker described taking cover from repeated paramotor attacks even after the earthquake struck.
“The paramotor attack noise is like a chainsaw,” he said. A nurse affiliated with the Civil Disobedience Movement confirmed attacks occurred on the day of the earthquake and again on 31 March.
Residents of Sagaing town reported a critical shortage of clean water, food, and shelter, with many sleeping on the streets under tarpaulins.
A pregnant woman described chaos at Sagaing General Hospital, comparing it to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: “There are tons of dead bodies in the hospital, without knowing who they are… The hospital just put them in the crematorium.”
On 2 April, the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) announced a two-week suspension of hostilities to facilitate earthquake relief. The next day, the Three Brotherhood Alliance, another armed anti-junta group, declared a one-month humanitarian pause.
Despite these moves, reports emerged that the military had conducted at least 14 attacks after the ceasefire was declared.
On 4 April, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reinforced Amnesty’s concerns and called for an immediate end to hostilities.
“I urge a halt to all military operations, and for the focus to be on assisting those impacted by the quake,” Türk said in Geneva. “The humanitarian and protection needs of the civilian population must be addressed without delay and without restriction.”
The UN Human Rights Office reported at least 53 military attacks in earthquake-affected areas since the tremors hit, including strikes by aircraft, drones, artillery, and paramotors.
The military has also reportedly continued its conscription campaign, forcibly recruiting young people involved in local rescue efforts.
The earthquake caused extensive destruction across Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Bago Region and parts of Shan State.
According to military-controlled media, at least 2,065 people were killed and more than 3,900 injured. However, due to internet shutdowns and access restrictions, the true toll is feared to be much higher.
Local groups and civil society organisations have taken the lead in providing aid.
A coordinating civil society report noted shortages of body bags, torches, medical supplies, and mosquito repellent in Sagaing, while international aid remained largely absent on the ground.
Amnesty warned that delays and discrimination in aid delivery, combined with the ongoing military presence, risk worsening the suffering of vulnerable populations.
“Priority… should be given to the most vulnerable or marginalised groups of the population,” Freeman said.
Türk echoed this view, saying: “It is critical that international assistance reach the people of Myanmar through international coordination mechanisms and support the civil society and community-based networks that are playing the frontline role to provide relief.”
As Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of both natural and man-made disasters, international observers continue to call for urgent and unrestricted access to affected communities, the release of political prisoners, and a renewed path toward democracy and human rights.
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