A shortage of medical supplies impedes Myanmar’s earthquake response, UN

The United Nations said Saturday that attempts to respond to Myanmar’s fatal earthquake are hampered by a significant dearth of medical supplies, and that people impacted require immediate humanitarian relief.

Following the massive earthquake that killed over 1,600 people in Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, the UN said it was mobilising emergency response activities in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

“As the full scope of the disaster unfolds, urgent humanitarian assistance is required to support those affected,” the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement.

It stated the response was hampered by a paucity of medical supplies, as well as damaged roads and communications infrastructure.

“A severe shortage of medical supplies is hampering response efforts, including trauma kits, blood bags, anaesthetics, assistive devices, essential medicines, and tents for health workers,” said OCHA.

The organization stated that hospitals and health institutions had suffered substantial damage or had been destroyed.

“Telecommunications and internet outages continue to impede humanitarian communication and activities. Damaged roads and debris restrict humanitarian access and complicate needs assessments,” it noted.

OCHA stated that coordination activities were underway to undertake quick needs assessments and scale up emergency response.

“The earthquake caused widespread destruction of homes and severe damage to critical infrastructure,” according to reports.

“Thousands of people are spending the nights on the streets or open spaces due to the damage and destruction to homes, or fearing further quakes.”

Hospitals in Mandalay, Magway, and the capital Naypyidaw “are struggling to cope with the influx of people injured” in central and northern Myanmar.

Multiple townships in southern Shan state have been hit, and clothes, blankets, emergency shelters, and food assistance are urgently required, according to OCHA.

According to the agency, a convoy of 17 cargo trucks from neighboring China carrying shelters and medical supplies is slated to arrive on Sunday.