An armed group in Myanmar claims that the military is still attacking villages from the air, even after a huge earthquake hit the country. This earthquake caused a lot of damage, killing 1,700 people and injuring more than 3,400. The Karen National Union, a group that fights for the rights of ethnic Karen people, said in a statement that the military should be helping with relief efforts but is instead using its forces to hurt its own people.
The earthquake destroyed important buildings in many cities, including airports, bridges, and roads. Because of the damage, rescue workers are having a hard time getting to people who need help. Many towns, like Mandalay, have a terrible smell from corpses that are trapped under the rubble.
The United Nations has also said there is a lack of medical supplies for those injured.
Since the military took over the elected government in a coup in 2021, Myanmar has been struggling with civil war, with many armed groups fighting back. The Free Burma Rangers, a relief organization, reported that military jets bombed an area called Karen state soon after the earthquake. The place where the earthquake started was held by military forces, but the disaster also damaged lands controlled by rebels.
Richard Horsey, an expert on Myanmar, said that while some anti-junta forces have stopped fighting, clashes still happen in other areas. He mentioned that the military is not helping in the places hit by the earthquake, unlike local fire brigades and community organizations that are trying their best to help.
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