Aid, Not Legitimacy: Deliver Relief to Myanmar's People, Not the Junta
By Aung Thet Paing Hmue
Special Edition for Myanmar M7.7 Earthquake
International aid should not be a chance to be exploited by the Myanmar junta, and delivering humanitarian assistance must be supported through international and trusted non-government organizations.
Key Takeaways:
While focusing on helping the affected Myanmar people, international organizations and foreign governments should be aware that they do not recognize Myanmar’s Junta's legitimacy and condemn the current bombing and military actions.
The UN and other nations should use neutral humanitarian organizations to provide relief aid to contribute equally to all affected areas.
History has shown that the military regime obstructed the disaster relief efforts for exploitation.
The catastrophic earthquake of 7.7 magnitude in central Myanmar resulting thousands of casualties and significant damages across the nation, especially in Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypitaw, and several other places. On the other hand, Myanmar’s Junta is taking advantage of this crisis as a chance to build legitimacy and initiate diplomatic tools. For the military junta, international aid is an opportunity to leverage diplomatic recognition. International governments should ensure that all humanitarian assistance reaches affected communities.
Background Information
Myanmar is famous for its Earthquake Geographical location among geologists, and many scholars have warned about the great potentiality of a great earthquake. A devastating earthquake happened in Myanmar on March 28, 2025, and caused over 3,000 casualties and led to the collapse of numerous historical and residential buildings. The National Unity Government outstated a two-week partial ceasefire and relief plan with CDMers if the junta guarantees their safety. Many international governments have pledged to send rescue teams to Myanmar, but there is no sign of a national rescue plan by SAC released yet. Meanwhile, the air strikes have continued in numerous areas, resulting in more causalities during this.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing declared a State of Emergency in the affected area and requested international assistance after the earthquake. The SAC also used this disaster to strengthen its legitimacy by phone conversations with international government leaders, hosting international rescue teams, and accepting international assistance. The Junta uses natural disasters as a chance to communicate with different governments after long-time international diplomatic isolation.
The National Union Government announced a military pause for quake response except for defensive actions. Meanwhile, the Myanmar Army is continuing attacks on different areas, including the earthquake-affected places, resulting in a significant worsening of an already acute situation. The international governments should condemn these inhumane war crimes, which can lead to tremendous devastation. Death tolls are rising while most international governments wait to get the junta’s approval to rescue.
Myanmar military junta’s history of obstructing International Aid
It is notable that even though humanitarian assistance is essential for rescuing Myanmar’s earthquake victims, the Military Government has failed many times in responding to natural disasters in time and has a dire record of exploiting natural disasters. During Cyclone Nargis, the military blocked international relief aid to maintain control and prevent external interference from preserving their sovereignty. As a result, more than 100,000 people died. In the 2022 Cyclone Mocha, the military also blocked aid for storm victims to avoid political leverage and prevent opposition mobilization. From these examples, the international governments should reconsider directly supporting humanitarian assistance through junta regarding the de facto power in disaster-affected areas.
Strategic Approach to Humanitarian Aid
While the international governments try to help Myanmar’s earthquake-affected population, they must learn from the historical event. It is undeniable that collaborating with local authorities is currently the quickest way to rescue people living under rubble. However, the most effective and efficient way to support the people has to be a clear and systematic message, not helping the junta. The Australian government announced it would provide immediate humanitarian relief through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). International emergency humanitarian assistance should be delivered in time while not accepting the military regime as a legitimate government. It should condemn the brutal air strikes and not take this devastating earthquake as an opportunity to expand the Myanmar military junta's legitimacy.
The world must act as fast as it can to deliver humanitarian aid while rejecting any attempts by the military junta to exploit this scheme for political gain in the upper hand. This devastating earthquake should not serve as an opportunity to strengthen the regime that continues to commit war crimes against its people.
Aung Thet Paing Hmue is a final-year CDM student with over two years of experience in humanitarian work. He is currently a migrant worker in Thailand.
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