More than 3,700 people have lost their lives and nearly 5,100 have been injured following two powerful earthquakes that struck Myanmar, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, 114 individuals remain missing, and tens of thousands have been displaced, now living in temporary shelters and makeshift tents. During a video conference for journalists held today in Geneva, Dr. Thushara Fernando, WHO Representative to Myanmar, provided an update on the situation.
He stated that the health risks for displaced populations are growing rapidly. According to Dr. Fernando, people living near stagnant water sources such as ponds are at an increased risk of contracting infectious diseases. The upcoming monsoon season is expected to exacerbate these risks, leading to greater threats of dengue fever and malaria outbreaks due to contaminated water supplies and the proliferation of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Dr. Fernando emphasised that despite rapid mobilisation of emergency health services, the needs on the ground are overwhelming.
He noted that WHO teams, alongside local and international partners, have been working tirelessly to provide essential healthcare services, clean water supplies, and sanitation support to the affected communities. He warned that the humanitarian response is at a critical stage. Without urgent and sustained funding, the risk of a secondary health crisis could escalate. Immediate medical needs, preventive measures against disease outbreaks, and ongoing health services for the injured and displaced are essential to stabilise the situation and prevent further loss of life.
The WHO is appealing for $8 million in funding to continue its operations in Myanmar. According to Dr. Fernando, the funds will be used to maintain emergency health clinics, deliver medical supplies, conduct disease surveillance, and support health education initiatives to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases. He reiterated that prompt international assistance is necessary to meet the basic health needs of tens of thousands of people affected by the disaster. In addition to direct healthcare services, WHO is also working to restore access to clean drinking water and improve sanitation facilities to lower the risk of waterborne diseases.
Temporary health posts have been set up in several displacement sites, and mobile medical teams are being deployed to reach remote areas cut off by the earthquakes. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as rescue and recovery operations continue. Humanitarian organisations have indicated that infrastructure damage is widespread, complicating the delivery of aid and further isolating many of the most severely affected regions. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.