MANDALAY, April 1: Survivors of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar are in urgent need of shelter, food, and water, according to aid groups reaching the hardest-hit areas. The earthquake, which struck on Friday, has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people, and as rescue teams continue their efforts, survivors remain in fear of aftershocks, sleeping outdoors in unsafe conditions.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that, while people are still digging through rubble in an attempt to recover the dead, medical care, drinking water, and food are desperately needed. Many individuals have been left homeless, and even those whose homes survived the quake are too scared to stay inside due to aftershock fears. The situation is compounded by ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which has made it difficult for aid groups to reach the survivors.

The death toll in Myanmar, according to state media, stands at 2,065, with more than 3,900 people injured and at least 270 missing. The junta has declared a week-long mourning period, though the tight control over communication networks and damage to infrastructure continue to hinder relief efforts. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, search and rescue teams continue to comb through the ruins of a collapsed skyscraper, with 13 deaths confirmed and 74 people still missing.

In Myanmar, survivors remain in makeshift shelters, enduring the harsh conditions while awaiting the arrival of necessary aid, including tents, food, and water. The damage to infrastructure and the country’s political instability have made relief efforts particularly difficult, leaving the survivors’ plight even more dire.