CNI News

7 April 2025

The chairman of the State Administration Council, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited an Indian temporary hospital providing healthcare to earthquake-affected people in Myanmar, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar announced.

India has built a temporary hospital in Mandalay to provide healthcare to people affected by the March 28 earthquake, and is also providing relief to those trapped. In addition, India is providing food, tents, medicines, blankets, personal hygiene items and other necessary supplies.

The temporary hospital opened by India has treated 800 people as of April 6, and Myanmar citizens have also recognized India's temporary hospital.

"Senior General Min Aung Hlaing visited the temporary hospital today (April 6). Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Sunday delivered replenishment supplies for the field hospital and food aid for needy communities and carried our NDRF team back after a successful Mission." reported the Indian Embassy.

India was the first country to send relief teams and provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar affected by the earthquake.

CNI News

7 April 2025

In Myanmar, the policies regarding natural disasters existed only on paper and implementation of them was weak, Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, founder of the Yangon Watch, told CNI News.

Lots of discussions on natural disasters were held under former two governments and ministers concerned answered that they had taken actions. 

However, there were no implementations in practice, she pointed out.

" A lot of discussions on natural disasters were conducted at the two Hluttaws. Ministers concerned replied that they had taken action. There were policies, but they were weak in putting into practice. It's been nearly 20 years since Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar. If policies on paper had been put into practice, we would have been ready to tackle a natural disaster at this time. Because it was weak in implementations, there was a shortage of skilled workers. The Myanmar people are kind and helpful when natural disasters strike. But they don't consistently demand or pressure for the long term." said Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin.

Under the NLD government, at the 15th regular session of the Amyotha Hluttaw, a member of the Hluttaw asked the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement how it had prepared to minimize damage and loss if an earthquake struck. 

While seeing the victims of the earthquake

Deputy Minister U Soe Aung answered that a total of 13,627 search and rescue personnel have been trained in search and rescue techniques.

In addition, devices that detect human heartbeats and body temperature reportedly were on standby to help search and rescue trapped people.

However, the public has pointed out that there were no search and rescue operations using these equipment amid the devastation following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28. 

Myanmar needs to invite outside experts to discuss natural disasters, including earthquakes, like economic and political issues, banking expert U Htay Aung Kyi told CNI News.

"It is not enough to just discuss natural disasters in the Hluttaw. It needs to be discussed like the discussion on economic and political sectors. But, later they said they would continue to hold discussions with experts, experienced people, and people with good ideas. It's not enough to just discuss in the Hluttaw. But to be honest, the knowledge of a member of the Hluttaw is limited. He might be good at the two carriers at most. That I want to mean just discussion on natural disasters in Hluttaw is not enough. We must think about how a system regarding natural disasters will be built." he said.

Currently, after the major earthquake, small earthquakes are also striking continuously, causing concern among the local population. 

In addition, there are difficulties in carrying out relief and relief work because charitable organizations have to operate with inadequate equipment.

Due to lack of preparation for the earthquake, rescue teams only arrived in the days following the quake, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and over 4,000 injuries.

CNI News
6 April 2025

Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) opened its Mobile Clinic providing healthcare to the west of the Mandalay Moat on April 3, reported the MRCS.

Moreover, the MRCS reported that it had provided healthcare to about 130 people and was planning to open mobile clinics in other places.

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks struck centering in Sagaing, near Mandalay, killing more than 3,000 people and injuring more than 4,000 in Sagaing, Bago, Magway Regions, Nay Pyi Taw Council area and Shan State, according to the figures as of 8 a.m. on April 3.

In addition, roads, bridges, homes, hotels, religious buildings, and cars were destroyed. Therefore, international relief teams from Thailand, India, China, Laos, Vietnam, Russia, Bangladesh, UAE, Singapore, Japan, Bhutan, and Hong Kong have arrived and are participating in relief efforts to help the earthquake-affected people.

In the same way, Russia, India, China, and Japan have opened temporary hospitals in the Mandalay Region and are providing healthcare.

CNI News
6 April 2025

The budget for emergency relief was insufficient because a lot of the budget is spent on military conflicts, chairman of the People's Party (PP) U Ko Ko Gyi told CNI News.

In addition, there are general deteriorations in the country, as well as corruption and weak personnel mechanisms, which have created weaknesses when it comes to implementing relief measures, he said.

"Many of our country's resources have been destroyed. Starting from the COVID pandemic, there have been political and military conflicts, floods, and now an earthquake. Again, the CDM issue has also weakened the education, health, and administrative sectors. So, it is true that there are weaknesses when it comes to emergency relief measures. Moreover, since a lot of the budget are spent on military conflicts, there are weaknesses when it comes to spending on emergencies." he said.

A donation event was held to help the people affected by the massive earthquake that struck Myanmar, raising a total of 116.84 billion kyats.

While U Zaw Zaw was donating money for earthquake relief

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that up to 500 billion kyats will be used to carry out rehabilitation work in areas damaged by the earthquake.

Elections needed to be held early through which a parliament would emerge. If the people are aware of the country's budget flow, it could lead to a positive change, vice chairman of the National Democratic Force Party (NDF) U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.

“During the governments led by President U Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi, the budgets were passed through Hluttaws, so the public knew how the budgets were spent. Now, the public doesn’t know where and how much the budget is spent. Now the Budget Committee only is making decisions how the budget will be divided. Under former governments,100 billion kyats had always been set aside as the President's emergency fund. Now we don't know whether there is still the emergency fund or not. So, elections need to be held as soon as possible. So, Hluttaws will emerge after elections. If Hluttaws emerge, the people will know the division of budget. This can lead to a positive change. So, we are always talking about holding elections." he said.

A very strong earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale and subsequent aftershocks struck Myanmar on March 28. The earthquake killed 3,085 people, injured 4,715, and left 341 missing in Sagaing, Mandalay Regions, and Naypyidaw Council area, according to the latest list released by the SAC as of 8 a.m. on April 3.

CNI News

5 April 2025

Myanmar should focus on making its relief teams international-standard based on the recent earthquake disaster in Myanmar, which is prone to natural disasters, civil society organizations told CNI.

When a natural disaster occurs, charitable organizations and youth are the first to arrive and provide relief and assistance to the extent they can, rather than government organizations, which has been effective in some areas.

16 years after Nargis, heavy rains cause floods and landslides. One year after that, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck.

Therefore, it is very important to develop international-standard relief and rescue teams in preparation for natural disasters, founder of the Yangon Watch, Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin told CNI News.

" It is very important to produce humanitarian aid workers of international standard. Myanmar youth go to the ground and help when there is an emergency. To tell you frankly, they are faster than government organizations to help and more effective in some areas. Philanthropic organizations reach natural disaster-hit areas almost at once. But they are badly in need of internationally qualified equipment and skills. In comparison with China, their relief teams have been by far more skillful than ours. Myanmar philanthropic organizations should be sent to China to train from now on. The government should meet the needs of international relief teams as soon as possible. If there are any delays, further worrisome developments may occur." she said.

Regarding natural disaster relief, in comparison with its neighboring countries, Myanmar has left behind a lot.

So, things that shouldn't happen are happening; she has been telling the Chinese Embassy to provide training, equipment and technology needed for relief efforts by charitable organizations in Myanmar, said Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin.

Because a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, rescue operations are still underway for local residents trapped under the rubble.

Since Myanmar lacks the necessary equipment and technology, systematic relief efforts can only be carried out when foreign aid teams arrive.

Since floods and earthquakes are different, experts should be invited to provide training courses not only on the use of technology but also on rescue operations, a banking expert U Htay Aung Kyi told CNI.

" Obviously, we don't have technology regarding earthquakes. We don't have the rescue technology for earthquakes. Systems and ways of thinking are flawed from the beginning. They (international rescue teams) have lots of heavy machines and money. But they arrived in the earthquake-hit areas on March 30 although the earthquake struck on March 28. Why were they so delayed? Flood and earthquake disasters are different. To the best of my knowledge, Myanmar relief teams were trained just a little." he said.

According to the information released by the SAC as of 8 a.m. on April 3, the number of deaths due to the earthquake was 3,085, that of injured was 4,715, and that of missing was 341.

CNI News

5 April 2025

The Federal Union Alliance (FUA) has sent a letter to the US Embassy requesting the release of one billion US dollars belonging to Myanmar held by the US government to help the earthquake-affected people in Myanmar carry out rehabilitation work, U Htet Aung Kyaw, vice chairman of the National Democratic Force Party, member of the FUA, told CNI News.

On April 2, 2025, the Federal Union Alliance (FUA) issued a statement calling for the release of $1 billion owned by the Myanmar government that were withheld by the US government due to the political crisis in Myanmar in 2021 to be used for the rehabilitation of the Burmese people. 

They had to make a decision to ask that money because it was a time of the public need; because it was a humanitarian request, they didn't think that the US government would refuse it, U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News.

"It is known that under the NLD government, one billion dollars was deposited in the United States. We don't know exactly why it was deposited. We also found out when the NUG requested permission from the US government to release it. The US government has frozen it without issuing any organization.  We made a decision to request the US government to release it because the public is desperately in need of money. We don't think that the US government will refuse because it's a humanitarian request. So, we sent a letter to the US Embassy."

While seeing the statement released by the FUA

The Federal Union Alliance (FUA) was formed on December 7, 2024, by five political parties, with the aim of creating a union state based on democracy and federalism for the future of Myanmar. 

The five parties are the National Democratic Front Party (NDF), the Tai Leng (Shanni) National Development Party (TNDP), the Naga National Party (NNP), the Karen People’s Party (KPP), and the Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP). Because the money deposited is owned by Myanmar, the people should accept to take the money, chairman of the TNDP Sai Htay Aung told CNI News.

" This money is state-owned. The people should accept it whenever it is withdrawn. I can't say exactly how much it will cost for the rehabilitation. So, it is necessary for the US to issue the money back. The people also should accept the money. The people accepted the money in the past. But some people prevented the US from issuance. So, the US didn't issue it." he said.

While seeing the devastation caused by the earthquake

If the money that the US has kept is issued, the current government must take the accountability whether it arrives in the hands of the people or not, he added.

" The current government must take the accountability whether the money arrives in the hands of the people. The people will know if the US announces it has issued the money. The government must present to people if it has accepted the money. It must be carried out in accordance with the law, I think." he said.

A very strong earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale and subsequent aftershocks struck Myanmar on March 28. The earthquake killed 3,085 people, injured 4,715, and left 341 missing in Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, and Naypyidaw Council area, according to the latest list released by SAC as of 8 a.m. on April 3.

CNI News

5 April 2025

Thai PM Paetongtarn and the chairman of the State Administration Council Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing separately discussed in Bangkok on the morning of April 4, 2025. 

Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok on April 3 to attend the summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

And then, the StAC chairman attended the BIMSTEC Summit Honorary Dinner hosted by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn. 

On April 4, Ser-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Paetongtarn held a private meeting. Although details of the discussion are not yet known, according to those close to the discussion, they discussed the matters relating to holding elections in Myanmar, rehabilitation of the earthquake victims, economic situations of the two countries and the peace and stability of the border areas of the two countries. 

The SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing separately met and discussed with Nepali PM on April 3.

CNI News
4 April 2025

Indian Prime Minister separately met and discussed with the chairman of the State Administration Council Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in the morning on April 4, 2025 in Bangkok. 
Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok, Thailand to attend the summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). 
Indian PM Modi also arrived in Bangkok to attend the BIMSTEC summit.

Although details of the discussion are not yet known, those close to the discussion said that they discussed conditions for holding elections, rehabilitation work for earthquake victims, economic situations of the two countries and the situation for the peace and stability in the border areas of the two countries.

The SAC Chairman Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing separately met and discussed with Nepali PM on April 3.

CNI News

4 April 2025

India's Medical team has opened a temporary hospital at the old airfield in Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar, and is providing healthcare. 

India sent a 118-member battle-field hospital team to Mandalay and the team built a 200-bed temporary hospital and is providing healthcare service to the Myanmar people affected by the earthquake.

The makeshift hospital has been providing healthcare, including surgical procedures to 104 patients, reported the Indian Embassy in Myanmar. Those who want to receive medical treatments and have medical check-ups reportedly can contact 0994245995, 0969239701.

India is providing relief and assistance, including humanitarian aids, to Myanmar in response to the earthquake that struck on March 28.