Myanmar has been engulfed in a civil war since 2021, but on March 28, the Southeastern Asian country was dealt another crucial blow when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the war-torn nation to its core. According to ABC News, as of April 5, the Myanmar state media has calculated the death toll at 3,354, while 4,850 have been injured and 220 remain missing. This gut-wrenching combination of tragic situations has left Myanmar in a position of needing our help now more than ever.
Myanmar’s violent civil war has caused many thousands of deaths and has created a complicated and dangerous geopolitical situation for the region, which combined with the country’s underdeveloped infrastructure, already resulted in a humanitarian crisis even before the quake. The addition of an extremely powerful earthquake to a crumbling infrastructure in a country where, according to Reuters, 32% live under the poverty line, has brought the nation to its knees.
Unfortunately for Myanmar, the United States, which historically has provided substantial amounts of aid to struggling nations, has shifted its foreign policy under the Trump administration. The current administration has vowed to abolish USAID, the U.S. agency in charge of distributing aid for the most vulnerable foreign nations. USAID has yet to be abolished, but it is hanging on by a thread after significant firings have gutted the agency. To make matters worse, according to the New York Times, President Trump recently fired a three person USAID team that was in Myanmar assessing the damage. The workers received their termination notification via email just days after they arrived in the country.
Other nations have stepped up to help fund the recovery, but it isn’t nearly enough. Myanmar needs everything imaginable, including medicine, medical supplies, clothes, clean water, food, and of above all, money. In a humanitarian crisis such as this, citizens who reside in prosperous and privileged countries should be called upon to help in any way they can to help supplement the funding and supplies needed for a successful relief effort.
Myanmar is no stranger to tragedy and death. The impoverished nation has had a history of political instability, military coups, external and internal wars, and being ruled by imperial powers. The Southeastern Asian country resides in a region with a history of geopolitical conflict and colonization, particularly in the last few hundred years. Like the other countries in the region of Indochina, Myanmar was colonized by an imperial European power. The other countries in the region, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, were French colonies, but Myanmar was ruled by the British from 1824-1948.
As with many former colonized countries that reside in underdeveloped regions of the world, even after they gained their independence, Myanmar has struggled to find a stable government and a thriving economy. After its independence, Myanmar, then known as Burma, had brief period of a representative democracy, but a 1962 military coup resulted in the country being ruled by a military junta for the next 26 years. In 1989, a failing economy led to another military junta assuming power, which it held until 2011, when a temporary civilian government took over.
Since 2011, a power struggle, fueled largely by ethnic conflict, has continued to plague the nation, and the current military junta in power overthrew the government in 2021. The junta engaged in violent authoritarian policies, which led to insurgency forces challenging their power, resulting in the civil war.
It is now on us to do what we can to help. I plead with students, administration, faculty and staff to give whatever you can to help this crippled nation and its people. Even a small amount of money helps. If 500,000 Americans give $10 to help the relief efforts, that is $1 million, which is more than some countries have contributed. Money is the easiest and most effective way we can help. Shipping medicine, medical supplies, water, and clothes personally can be expensive as well as being a logistical challenge.
If supplies are what you prefer to give, seek out a reputable charity that is collecting these items for the cause, but keep in mind how expensive shipping materials will be, which means more cost for the charity and could result in less of your money going to Myanmar. Giving money is the most efficient and impactful way to help. Catholic Relief Services is a Campus Ministry approved charity. You can donate to CRS through its website https://support.crs.org/donate.
People of all faiths are called upon to act as holy texts include passages that clearly call on their followers to help the most vulnerable people on the planet. Even those who aren’t religious, but believe in the charisms of the University, which are mercy, service, hospitality and justice, have reason to help the people of Myanmar. Times are financially tight for many right now, but even a few dollars can help—and may be more than many citizens of Myanmar live on each day.