The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Sunday's devastating earthquake in Myanmar as its highest-level emergency, urgently appealing for $8 million to address immediate humanitarian needs and prevent disease outbreaks in affected areas. The organization warned that time is critical to save lives and stabilize the crisis over the next 30 days.
Preliminary assessments reveal significant casualties and traumatic injuries overwhelming local healthcare systems, with the WHO emphasizing a dire need for emergency medical care. 'This crisis demands immediate international support to prevent secondary health disasters,' a WHO spokesperson stated, confirming the activation of its Grade 3 Emergency Response Framework—reserved for the most severe crises requiring global mobilization.
Healthcare experts warn stagnant water, disrupted sanitation systems, and overcrowded shelters could trigger infectious disease outbreaks, compounding the disaster's toll. The appeal aims to fund mobile clinics, medical supplies, and disease surveillance while addressing acute malnutrition risks among displaced populations.
Myanmar's government and local aid groups are coordinating with international partners to assess remote regions still cut off by landslides and damaged infrastructure. The disaster highlights vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness for the Southeast Asian nation, which faces frequent seismic activity and climate-related challenges.
