Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar's military junta, is attending a summit in Bangkok as his nation grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that has claimed over 3,000 lives. The earthquake, which struck central Myanmar last Friday, has resulted in at least 3,085 fatalities and injured thousands more, with many areas still unreachable for rescue teams. Hlaing’s attendance at the summit of Bay of Bengal nations is particularly contentious, considering that leaders under international sanction are usually excluded from such gatherings.
Myanmar Leader's Controversial Attendance at Summit Amid Rising Quake Casualties
Myanmar Leader's Controversial Attendance at Summit Amid Rising Quake Casualties
As the death toll from the recent earthquake in Myanmar surpasses 3,000, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing arrives in Thailand for a regional summit, raising eyebrows amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Despite being under sanction, Hlaing arrived in Thailand on Thursday to participate in discussions alongside leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The host nation, which felt the quake's impact with a reported 21 fatalities, has called for a collective statement addressing the disaster. Although global aid is being dispatched to Myanmar, challenges such as poor infrastructure and ongoing civil conflict are hampering relief efforts.
In an attempt to facilitate aid delivery, the junta declared a temporary ceasefire almost instantly after rejecting previous offers of assistance from armed ethnic groups. This development follows an alarming incident where military troops opened fire on a Chinese Red Cross convoy that was en route to deliver humanitarian aid. As the country faces profound economic instability and a deepening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the earthquake, humanitarian organizations are appealing for unrestricted aid access. The UN has also urged an increase in humanitarian efforts before the impending monsoon season worsens the situation.
In an attempt to facilitate aid delivery, the junta declared a temporary ceasefire almost instantly after rejecting previous offers of assistance from armed ethnic groups. This development follows an alarming incident where military troops opened fire on a Chinese Red Cross convoy that was en route to deliver humanitarian aid. As the country faces profound economic instability and a deepening humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the earthquake, humanitarian organizations are appealing for unrestricted aid access. The UN has also urged an increase in humanitarian efforts before the impending monsoon season worsens the situation.
