Relief operations in Myanmar have been severely disrupted as extreme weather hammers earthquake-hit regions, where more than 3,600 lives were lost in the devastating 7.7-magnitude quake on March 28. The catastrophe flattened vast areas across central Myanmar, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Magwe, and Bago.

With over 17.2 million people living in the affected zones, around 9.1 million felt the brunt of the strongest tremors. Thousands remain without shelter, enduring searing heat—temperatures hitting 38°C—while unseasonal rains have further paralyzed rescue and aid efforts.

According to the UN’s OCHA, entire communities are camped in the open, lacking water, electricity, sanitation, and healthcare. In many areas, infrastructure lies in ruins—over 5,000 buildings, nearly 2,000 schools, and hundreds of religious sites, hospitals, and bridges have been damaged.

Aid workers report rising risks of disease, worsened by the clash of heat and rain. Relief machinery in newskarnatakaMandalay and Sagaing was forced to halt due to rain-related electrical hazards. And with the early onset of stormy weather expected to intensify mid-April, fears of landslides and flooding are growing.

To make matters worse, sporadic fighting continues despite ceasefire declarations, casting a shadow over humanitarian access. Both the military and ethnic rebel groups blame each other for violating temporary truces.