The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) has joined growing calls for emergency international assistance following twin earthquakes that struck Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March 2025.
The earthquakes, which devastated areas near Mandalay and across the Thai border, have left an unconfirmed number of people dead or injured.
The full scale of destruction remains unclear as emergency responders struggle to reach those still trapped under debris.
Hospitals and medical facilities in both countries are reportedly overwhelmed, while continuing aftershocks pose further threats to already-damaged infrastructure.
Collapsed bridges, destroyed arterial roads, and toppled high-rise buildings have compounded the crisis, hindering rescue and relief operations.
In a statement, SAC-M expressed its deep shock and shared the fears held by affected communities, while joining the National Unity Government (NUG) and Myanmar civil society in urging immediate global support.
SAC-M called on neighbouring countries, ASEAN, and the broader international community to deploy emergency aid, specialised rescue teams, and critical equipment without delay.
The advisory body emphasised that aid must be directed through trusted actors, including the NUG, ethnic organisations, and civil society partners, to ensure it reaches the most vulnerable communities.
The timing of the disaster has further heightened concern, as it comes amid a backdrop of ongoing conflict and severe humanitarian need in Myanmar.
According to SAC-M, the country remains in a dire situation due to a protracted four-year conflict under the military junta, which has driven one-third of the population—approximately 20 million people—into poverty and critical need.
The earthquakes also arrive just months after Cyclone Mocha and Typhoon Yagi, previous natural disasters that exacerbated humanitarian suffering in Myanmar.
Human rights and aid organisations have accused the junta of exploiting past disasters by restricting humanitarian access and using aid distribution as a tool of political control.
Given this history, SAC-M urged the international community to bypass junta-controlled mechanisms and instead utilise established cross-border aid delivery channels that work with local partners.
These efforts should focus on severely affected regions and prioritise rapid, coordinated assistance to prevent further loss of life.
The group also encouraged ASEAN to activate and expand the disaster relief mandate of its AHA Centre to assist in evacuation, relocation, and relief delivery for affected populations.
Speed and effectiveness, SAC-M stated, are critical to saving lives and ensuring survivors are supported in the aftermath of the earthquakes.
As of now, no confirmed figures have been released regarding the number of casualties, though reports indicate significant damage across central Myanmar and northern Thailand.
In the wake of the disaster, the NUG has begun coordinating with ethnic resistance groups and civil society organisations to mount search, rescue, and relief operations.
However, limited resources and previous international aid cuts have hampered these efforts, making external support even more crucial.
The SAC-M reiterated that Myanmar’s people cannot afford further delays in humanitarian assistance, especially in the face of compounding crises.
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