Members of a public health team to Myanmar board a plane at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.  Photo: Xinhua
 

Editor's Note:

A Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar from Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts in the country. The team, consisting of 50 members, will primarily conduct tasks such as post-disaster risk assessment, disease monitoring, laboratory testing, epidemiological investigations, infectious disease control, drinking water monitoring, environmental sanitation and disinfection, health education, and technical training, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The deployment of team is China's latest move in helping Myanmar after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the country on March 28, which has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured as of Friday, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team. What is the latest situation in Myanmar? What are the major difficulties that the locals and rescue missions face? What role does China play in the rescue missions and how does this help the country? Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) spoke with Stephanie Xu (Xu), PR Officer at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Myanmar. 

Stephanie Xu, PR Officer at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Myanmar

GT: Could you please update us on the current situation in the Myanmar earthquake disaster areas, including the extent of infrastructure damage and the urgent needs of the affected populations?

Xu: The post-earthquake situation remains dire. Over 3,600 people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured, while many are still missing. The extent of infrastructure damage also remains severe - hundreds of homes collapsed, with roads and highways impaired. We are continuing to assess the damage - how many people have been affected, which areas are most in need of humanitarian assistance, and how many buildings have collapsed.

The impact of the earthquake has made daily life extremely difficult for survivors. Search and rescue operations are now over. Heavy rainfall has added to the suffering of the displaced families and has created further barriers to rescue and relief operations, along with additional quakes that occur very often.

There is an urgent need for humanitarian and protection assistance. Basic necessities are in high demand due to shortages of clean water, shelter, food, clothing, cash assistance, medical treatment, hygiene kits for women and girls, sanitation, and other essential non-food items. Many families have been separated, and some have lost their loved ones. These tragic stories have deeply moved not only the local communities, but also the international community.

Together with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and our partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we are working tirelessly to assist those affected —wherever they may be. After the immediate emergency response, long-term assistance will be essential to support recovery and rehabilitation efforts. 

GT: How would you describe the role of the Chinese rescue teams in this operation? Could you provide examples of their involvement or technical support that have made an impact on the relief efforts?

Xu: We have seen China's efficient response, including search and rescue teams, relief and medical assistance, among others, and the efforts of the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC). This reflects the importance of coordinated efforts and solidarity from Myanmar's neighbors and the commitment of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in this time of emergency.

The presence of the Chinese rescue teams and the RCSC in the country shortly after the earthquake had a great impact on relief efforts in establishing a quick response and providing assistance. 

GT: What key immediate rescue measures did the ICRC implement right after the earthquake, and what are the primary initiatives being prioritized at this stage of relief operations?

Xu: Amid this devastation, the ICRC, together with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and other partners from across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has delivered life-saving support. Our priority remains to reach those in urgent need across the region, ensuring that families receive essential aid during this difficult time. 

In Mandalay, where the ICRC has an operational sub-delegation with 45 staff members, teams have been on the ground from the outset, working side-by-side with local responders and coordinating with health authorities to reach those in urgent need. In just the first two days of response to the earthquake, we provided six emergency health kits, each capable of covering the medical needs of 10,000 people for three months, provided 600 body bags for the dignified recovery and identification of the deceased, and also supported the Myanmar Red Cross Society's emergency teams conducting search-and-rescue and first aid operations. We then prepared essential items for those helping on the front lines, while also providing safe water and sanitation, shelter, and essential supplies. The ICRC and our Movement partners are ready to help people reconnect with missing loved ones through the Restoring Family Links program.

GT: In your assessment, what has been the greatest challenge during this disaster relief process? Have you encountered significant obstacles such as transportation issues, shortages in supplies, or difficulties in coordinating among various agencies?

Xu: We face a few challenges when it comes to assisting those affected by the earthquake. First, assessing which areas have been affected outside of Mandalay and other impacted areas has taken time as the process has been slowed down due to telecom network disruptions countrywide. Roads and infrastructure have also been damaged, increasing the amount of time we need to reach communities, especially those that are hard to reach. 

We're closely following the situation on the ground in Myanmar to determine where needs are greatest, and with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and our partners - including local groups and civil society organizations - we are working hard to assist those affected, wherever they are. The ICRC has called on all parties to enable wider humanitarian access to communities in all affected areas and for an extension of the temporary cessation of hostilities. The devastating earthquake and the massive needs it generated must push the parties to agree on a path forward to bring critical respite to communities.

GT: From your perspective, how do China's actions in this rescue effort reflect the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind? 

Xu: As a neutral humanitarian organization, the ICRC remains committed to providing its own contribution and is ready to work with different actors toward addressing humanitarian challenges and needs for the benefit of those affected by conflict and other emergencies in the country.

In the long run, one of the synergies between China and the ICRC would be long-term livelihood support to people caught in the earthquake and conflicts. The ICRC puts emphasis on the collaborative approaches between humanitarian and development actors to find sustainable solutions to some of the longstanding humanitarian crises.

GT: How do you evaluate the collaborative mechanism between the Chinese rescue teams and other rescue teams and organizations including the ICRC, in terms of information sharing and resource coordination? How do you evaluate this collaboration and what successful practices have emerged from this partnership?

Xu: The ICRC acts in close coordination with the Myanmar Red Cross Society on the ground and is ready to work with the Red Cross Society of China and other Chinese stakeholders. To facilitate the process, we will be counting on the existing good relations between the ICRC and the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, but we will also coordinate with our regional delegation in Beijing which is in touch with Chinese authorities and other agencies.

This cooperation is crucial for achieving the shared humanitarian mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering, especially in times of conflict and other emergencies. 

GT: Looking ahead, what sustainable aid measures are most crucial for the long-term reconstruction of the affected areas in Myanmar? In what ways can the international community, including the ICRC and China, further support the country's post-disaster recovery?

Xu: We must prioritize rebuilding resilient communities by reconstructing infrastructure, creating livelihood opportunities, and strengthening disaster preparedness. We support long-term recovery through various programs, including economic security initiatives, cash assistance, livelihood support, and capacity building. These efforts are especially important as many people are still in a precarious situation due to aftershocks.

The ICRC operates a wide range of programs to protect and assist individuals affected by armed conflict, disasters, and other emergencies. Key areas of focus include humanitarian assistance, the promotion of international humanitarian law, economic security, health care, water and habitat among others. 

Together, these efforts contribute to the long-term recovery and resilience of communities impacted by earthquakes, helping ensure their well-being and enabling them to rebuild their lives.

GT: Based on the experiences from this earthquake relief operation, what message would you like to convey to the international community to foster greater collaboration in disaster response and recovery?

Xu: The earthquake has devastated communities across Myanmar, with thousands injured, displaced, and unaccounted for, as well as extensive damage to buildings, roads, and other facilities. Our thoughts are with the families who've lost everything and those still searching for loved ones. The disaster impacts a population in Myanmar that's already dealing with decades of armed conflict and other forms of violence. The temporary cessation of hostilities, was a welcome step in the right direction, but it should be extended. Neutral and impartial humanitarian actors such as the ICRC should be able to reach all of those in need of help.

We are calling on all parties to enable wider humanitarian access to communities in all affected areas. Myanmar needs the international community to stand with it and support them in this hour of need. Before the earthquake, nearly 20 million people were already relying on humanitarian action as a result of conflicts and violence. Many are now in even more dire need of support. As the search and rescue phase winds down and hope of finding survivors under the rubble fades, the humanitarian response to meet the growing needs of all affected communities must be scaled up urgently. 

In conclusion, we urge the international community to stand with these vulnerable communities in need of humanitarian assistance to ensure social inclusion, and prevent long-term negative economic and social consequences, allowing those affected to live with dignity.