Urgent call on international governments to impose effective sanctions to immediately halt the military junta’s airstrikes across the country, including in earthquake-affected areas

No. 6/2025

5 April, 2025.

On March 28, 2025, at 12:50 PM Myanmar Time, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck Myanmar, centered in the Sagaing and Mandalay cities. This was followed by another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 at 1:02 PM. As of April 2, there have been 271 additional aftershocks.

The military junta has not allowed people to freely help each other and donate materials when people are in dire need. It has also imposed limitations on international humanitarian organizations, allowing only restricted access. In an extreme case, the Taiwan Rescue Team was restricted to the point of being banned from entering the country. A particularly shocking incident occurred on April 1, 2025, when the terrorist military junta’s forces attacked a Chinese Red Cross rescue team in Naung Cho Township as they attempted to provide aid, forcing them to retreat.

Moreover, the most devastating fact is that as Myanmar faces the severe impact of the earthquake, countless people are sleeping on the ground outside collapsed buildings without shelter. As of April 4, at least 4,159 people have died, 6,168 have been injured, and 769 remain missing. Despite this humanitarian crisis, the military junta is carrying out daily airstrikes. Within just (7) days of the earthquake, 42 airstrikes were conducted, resulting in at least 51 deaths and over 30 injuries.

As the Blood Money Campaign, we welcome and appreciate international governments’ immediate delivery of humanitarian aid and relief supplies, including those of ASEAN countries. However, we also urgently call for effective action to halt the military junta’s airstrikes without exception immediately.

Recommendations to International Governments, including ASEAN:

1. Halt Military Aggression: Take immediate and effective measures to end the military junta’s ongoing airstrikes and military operations. Implement more decisive actions if such violations persist.

2. Restrict and Safeguard Aid: Cease all new international aid channeled through the military junta. Establish robust safeguards to ensure aid is not manipulated or weaponized for political or military gain, regardless of the implementing partners involved.

3. Ensure Transparent Aid Delivery: Utilize embassies, independent media, and relevant organizations to monitor and verify that humanitarian aid is reaching earthquake-affected civilians, particularly in contested areas.

4. Support Trusted Humanitarian Channels: Provide aid through the National Unity Government (NUG), Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with proven local networks and access..

5. End Recognition of the Junta: Refrain from extending invitations or engaging in official communication with the junta in ASEAN and international mechanisms to avoid granting it legitimacy.

#humanitarianaid #BusinessAndHumanRights #BHR #MyanmarEarthquake #EarthquakeNews #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #BloodMoneyCampaignMM