Julie Bishop visits Myanmar to address earthquake crisis
- Julie Bishop, the U.N. Special Envoy for Myanmar, met with Foreign Minister Than Swe during her first visit to the country since her appointment.
- The March 28 earthquake resulted in at least 3,649 deaths and over 5,000 injuries, causing immense destruction to infrastructure.
- Bishop's visit aims to address the coordination of aid in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by natural disasters and civil unrest.
Myanmar has been in a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a civil war and a devastating earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025. The 7.7 magnitude quake resulted in a staggering death toll of 3,649 people, injuring over 5,000 and leaving many individuals missing. The earthquake caused extensive damage, destroying nearly 49,000 houses, multiple schools, and thousands of religious sites throughout six regions. Amid this turmoil, Julie Bishop, the U.N. Special Envoy for Myanmar, embarked on her inaugural visit to the country following her appointment in April 2024. During her visit, she met with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Than Swe, focusing on the coordination of aid for the earthquake-affected areas. Bishop's role underlines the United Nations' firm commitment to humanitarian assistance and ongoing efforts to foster dialogue amidst the lingering civil conflict, which has displaced millions and left a significant portion of the population in dire need of aid. Despite a declared unilateral ceasefire to facilitate relief efforts, ongoing clashes continue to pose challenges to recovery. Reports indicate that widespread fighting persists as the region grapples with humanitarian needs, including food, drinking water, health care, and emergency shelter, especially as it faces the added pressure of aftershocks, which have complicated efforts to stabilize the affected areas. The devastation brought by the earthquake adds urgency to international assistance and underscores the necessity of addressing the deeper-rooted issues of political instability and humanitarian crises that plague Myanmar. As of Bishop's visit, over 17.2 million people are still affected, reflecting the seismic impact of both natural disasters and ongoing armed conflict in the country. The UN and humanitarian organizations underscored the necessity for immediate and coordinated aid responses to alleviate the suffering and stabilize the region with an eye towards long-term resolution of the civil conflict that has persisted since the military coup in February 2021, further complicating recovery efforts and humanitarian aid delivery across Myanmar.