Injured victims to receive royal care
Thai troops are being deployed to Myanmar to support rescue and recovery efforts following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that left widespread destruction in its wake.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to mobilize military assistance for earthquake relief, as confirmed by Deputy Defence Minister Gen Nattapol Nakpanich.
A specialized search and rescue team, comprising 49 personnel from the Thai armed forces along with medical supplies, will board a C-130 aircraft from the Thai air force for deployment on Sunday.
The initial response will concentrate on immediate humanitarian needs and evaluating further support required by the Myanmar government. The Thai administration is currently assessing requests for aid from Myanmar to determine subsequent measures, Gen Nattapol added.
As of now, more than 1,000 casualties have been reported across Myanmar cities due to Friday’s earthquake. The tremors also affected areas in Thailand, including causing the collapse of a skyscraper in Bangkok.
Additionally, Their Majesties the King and Queen have undertaken to provide royal care for patients injured in Thailand as a result of the earthquake. A statement shared on Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s social media indicated that victims of the disaster would receive royally sponsored medical attention.
Asean ‘ready’ to help
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has acknowledged the pressing need for humanitarian assistance in Myanmar following the quake and is prepared to support recovery efforts, as stated by foreign ministers on Saturday.
Asean officials expressed their commitment to solidarity and will actively coordinate humanitarian assistance, facilitate relief operations, and ensure an effective response to the crisis.
No help in Myanmar
Myanmar’s junta has made a rare request for international aid, while disaster response teams from several nations, including Russia, China, Singapore, and India, are arriving in the country.
However, rights activists have raised concerns regarding the delivery of aid, citing the regime’s historical resistance to permitting assistance in areas controlled by opposition factions.
Thomas Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, remarked on social media that the military’s past responses to natural disasters suggest a potential to manipulate aid for political purposes.
Reports indicate that the junta has pressured aid agencies, limiting their capacity to address a significant food crisis within the nation.
In Mandalay, local residents have reported a lack of assistance from military authorities, with some rescue workers resorting to borrowing equipment to clear debris.
Community members have expressed urgent needs for machinery on social media, with calls for help in retrieving lost family members under the rubble of collapsed structures.
