Destitution, Disease Plague Myanmar Quake Survivors

The United Nations

One month since Myanmar's earthquake disaster, tens of thousands of survivors still live in makeshift tents with little to protect them from pre-monsoon storms and mosquitoes.

The UN World Health Organization ( WHO ) is just one of the UN agencies working to help the most vulnerable in worst-hit central areas, but much more help is needed.

"When it rains, they can't sleep, and when the rain stops, they still can't sleep because they feared the wind might have their only shelter away," said Dr Thushara Fernando, WHO representative in Myanmar.

In an update from Yangon, the WHO medic warned that the risk of waterborne disease "is becoming a reality" for all those still living under plastic sheeting with stagnant water all around.

A cholera outbreak was already reported in Mandalay just a few months ago.

Survivors "feed their babies, they eat, they drink in their tents; they don't have even a simple mosquito net to sleep under in the night," Dr Fernando continued.

"Water sources are contaminated, temporary toilet facilities are overwhelmed, and acute watery diarrhoea has been reported in two areas," he continued.

Two major earthquakes hit central Myanmar on 28 March killing at least 3,700 people. About 5,100 more were injured and 114 are still missing, according to WHO. The true toll is likely much higher because of underreporting.

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