Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (16-04-2025 to 30-04-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(16-04-2025 to 30-04-2025)

Over (50) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

As of 30 April 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,589 people and arrested another 29,094 people. 22,187 people remain in detention and 168 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.

Moreover, over 3.5 million people are being displaced. 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls. 112,485 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the illegal coup until the end of December 2024, according to the report of 27 February 2025 by Data for Myanmar.

Unfortunately, the suffering of the people has been compounded by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on 28 March. Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region and Nay Pyi Taw were among the hardest hit. Due to the earthquake, almost 4,200 people killed, over 3,680 people injured. Over 3.2 million people were affected. Infrastructures as well as houses and religious facilities were severely destroyed.

Amidst such people suffering, the military junta has continued carrying out of aerial and artillery attacks across the country.

Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates

Crimes perpetrated by the junta troops and its affiliates, militias across Myanmar include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of civilians, including children. These atrocities have led to widespread displacement, destruction of civilian properties, and a climate of fear and insecurity among the civilian population. The junta's widespread and systematic tactics of brutality are aimed at suppressing dissent and maintaining its grip on power, regardless of the human cost and violations of international law.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from April 1 to 30, 2025, the junta killed (96) people in total; (48) women and (48) men, across the country, including (21) children under the age of 18. These are the numbers that have been verified. Among the fatalities, (72) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, marking the highest cause of death. Among the (96) deceased, Sagaing Region records the highest number of fatalities with (37) people, followed by (12) in Mandalay Region.

War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Mass Murders Committed by the Military Junta

One Civilian Killed, 21 Injured in Military Junta Airstrikes on Kyauktaw

One civilian was killed on the spot and 21 others were injured when the military junta bombed residential areas in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) on 19 April 2025, according to the reliable sources. The bombs were dropped on residential areas while people were sleeping. The resident stated that the bombs fell in Pyithu Htar, in Shan villages, and then in the new town. The bombs fell on the streets of those neighborhoods. He said that fighter jets came and bombed the area four times.

Locals said the deceased was 38-year-old U Kyaw Zaw Chey (B) Maung Nge. Among the injured were three children under the age of ten, but details are not yet known. On 13 April, the military junta bombed Kyauktaw town with fighter jets, injuring three civilian women and damaging several homes.

The repeated airstrikes on civilian areas in Kyauktaw represent serious violations of international humanitarian law, which prohibits indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations. The targeting of residential areas at night while residents were sleeping raises grave concerns about the military junta's conduct of hostilities and disregard for civilian protection in conflict zones.

24 People Including Children Killed in Military Junta Airstrike on Yethik Village

According to local sources, 24 people, including children, were killed and around 30 injured when the military junta's air force bombed Yethik Village in Thabeikkyin Township, Pyin Oo Lwin District, Mandalay Region, on the afternoon of 19 April 2025. The attack was reportedly carried out at around 1:00 PM with two 200-pound bombs dropped on the village of Nadi.

Locals said 13 people died in the attack, while another 11 died while receiving medical treatment. The death toll is expected to rise, they said. They also said the injured were still receiving medical treatment. Locals and civil defense forces say airstrikes continue across the country despite a temporary ceasefire declared by the military junta to focus on earthquake relief efforts.

The targeting of a village resulting in numerous civilian casualties, particularly children, constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The continuation of airstrikes despite the military junta's announced ceasefire for earthquake relief demonstrates a disregard for humanitarian considerations and raises serious concerns about the protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar.

Military Junta Bombs IDP Camp in Sagaing Region, Killing Five Including a Child

The Irrawaddy stated that the military junta bombed an IDP camp near Kandaw Village in Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region, at around 11 a.m. on 19 April 2025. Two civil defense personnel and three civilians were killed and eight more civilians were injured in the attack. The civilians who died were war refugees: 3-year-old Ma Su Myat, 17-year-old Ma May Zun Oo, and 65-year-old U Tin Maung.

A local resident reported that as soon as the plane arrived, they fired at it. They dropped four bombs. The people who were fleeing the war in the forest were affected. All of them were civilians. In addition, two women and six men, including a five-year-old child, were injured.  

The bombing of an IDP camp represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks against displaced civilians seeking refuge from conflict. The killing of vulnerable displaced persons, including a 3-year-old child and an elderly person, demonstrates the indiscriminate nature of the military junta's air campaign. This attack adds to the growing pattern of airstrikes against civilian targets, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Sagaing Region.

Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Three Civilians, Injure 12 Others in Mandalay Region

Three civilians were killed and 12 others, including two monks, were injured when the military junta bombed Mattara, Sintku, and Taungtha townships in Mandalay Region on 21 April 2025. The monastery in Ontdai Village, Mattara Township, which was severely damaged by the earthquake, was bombed at around 1 pm on 21 April.

According to a local resident, two monks and two local residents were seriously injured in the attack. The resident stated that they fired two rockets and then a hundred-pound bomb fell straight down. That monastery was heavily destroyed in the last earthquake, leaving only two or three dormitories. It fell straight down on the remaining dormitories. Locals said that during the earthquake, a school collapsed, killing a monk and two others. Similarly, local residents said that an airstrike was carried out on Zee Kone Village in Sint Ku Township on 21 April, and four civilians, including a five-year-old child, were injured in the attack. The resident mentioned that a five-year-old child, a 60-year-old man, another man and a woman were injured. In total, two men and two women were injured. It is also stated that a woman in her 60s was seriously injured. In addition, the Taungtha Community Action Committee reported that three locals were killed and four others were injured when three paratroopers dropped 11 bombs on Ywa Thit Than Bo Village in Taungtha Township on 21 April.

Without honouring its own temporary ceasefire announcement giving a reason to focus on earthquake relief efforts, the military junta conducts continued airstrikes across the country, including in earthquake-hit areas. The targeting of areas already devastated by the recent earthquake, including religious sites like monasteries, raises serious concerns about the military junta's conduct of hostilities. These airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in earthquake-affected regions compound the suffering of communities already struggling with the aftermath of a natural disaster and demonstrate a disregard for basic humanitarian principles.  

Military Junta Burns Entire Village in Magway Region, Kills Two in Airstrike

Local media outlets reported that the entire village of Bala Basha in Yesagyo Township, Magway Region, was burned down after being attacked by the military junta on 21 April 2025. Around 200 houses were reportedly destroyed in the attack. A local said that in addition to the 256th, 257th, and 258th Infantry Battalions based in Yesagyo, the 101st Infantry Battalion based in Pakokku also deployed around 150 troops. The media stated that they are still compiling a list of houses that were burned down, but the current estimate is around 200 houses.

In addition, the Yesagyo Township Press Office reported that Daw San Myint Kyi, 68, and Ko Nyo Lin Aung, 43, from Sinma Ye village were killed in an airstrike on the night of 23 April. Around 6,000 civilians from Kyu Village, Sin Daw Village, Ywa Thit Village, Nyaung Pin Village, Kyaw Htin Kone Village, Mathie Village, Inn Ma Village, Cheon Mya Lay Village, Cheon Mya Pyae Village, Sin Ma Ye Village, and Cheon Pae Village have been forced to flee their homes due to this military offensive.

The destruction of an entire village and the displacement of thousands of civilians represent serious violations of international humanitarian law. The reported burning of approximately 200 homes suggests a deliberate policy of collective punishment against civilian populations in areas where resistance forces are active. The subsequent airstrike killing two civilians, including an elderly woman, demonstrates the continuing pattern of indiscriminate attacks against civilian areas.

Military Junta Carried Out 409 Attacks in Rakhine State During Earthquake Ceasefire

The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO), a research wing of the Arakan Army (AA), reported on 23 April that the military junta carried out 409 military attacks in Rakhine State between 2 and 22 April, when the first ceasefire was declared due to the earthquake. The military junta also attacked Kyaukphyu, Taunggyi, Kyauktaw, Sittwe, and Pauktaw townships with jet fighters, drones, paratroopers, naval ships, and heavy weapons.

The statement said one civilian was killed and 28 others, including five children aged between 5 and 14, were injured in the attack, while 21 houses, two shops and a religious building were destroyed. The military junta declared a temporary nationwide ceasefire from 2 to 22 April to allow for relief efforts following the earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March, and extended it for another week from 23 to 30 April.

According to figures compiled by the local media outlets, in the three weeks since the first ceasefire was declared, 161 civilians were killed and another 299 injured in bombings and artillery attacks by the military junta across the country. The Arakan Army (AA) HDCO said in a statement on 23 April that the military junta's attacks during the ceasefire period were a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The extensive military operations conducted during a declared ceasefire period undermine the credibility of the military junta's humanitarian commitments and represent a significant breach of its own stated policy.

KNU Reports 20 Civilians Killed During Military Junta's Earthquake Ceasefire

The Karen National Union (KNU) announced on the evening of 26 April that 20 civilians were killed in aerial bombings and artillery shelling in Karen State between 2 and 22 April, when the military junta declared a ceasefire due to the earthquake. The KNU reported that 57 civilians, including two monks and a nun, were injured, and five monasteries, one church, and 27 homes were destroyed.

The military junta's ceasefire declaration was issued with the aim of receiving assistance from international organizations, but the KNU statement said that the attacks targeted civilians in towns and villages controlled by the resistance forces were continuing.

The UN human rights office said in a statement last week that there were 172 air and artillery strikes between 2 and 24 April, when the military junta declared a ceasefire, 73 of which were carried out in earthquake-affected areas.

The statement said that between 2 and 18 April, the military junta carried out an average of nearly ten air or drone strikes per day, killing at least six people each day, bringing the total number of airstrikes deaths to 105 during this period.

The documented attacks in Karen State during a declared ceasefire period add to growing evidence that military operations continued despite public commitments to pause fighting for humanitarian purposes. The targeting of religious buildings, including monasteries and churches, as well as civilian homes, raises serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law. The UN human rights office's documentation of widespread airstrikes during the ceasefire period, particularly in earthquake-affected areas, suggests a significant gap between the military junta's public statements and its actions on the ground.

Human Rights Abuses  

Lack of Healthcare Providers Hinder Earthquake Response

The arrest of over 872 healthcare workers and the closure of private hospitals has significantly undermined the response to the Sagaing earthquake, according to a joint assessment by Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights. About 263 healthcare facilities have been attacked and at least 74 health workers have been killed since the February 2021 coup, according to Swiss organization Insecurity Insight.

Lindsey Green, the deputy director of research at Physicians for Human Rights, stated in a press release that governments supporting the earthquake response should call on the military junta to cease airstrikes and other unlawful attacks targeting healthcare facilities and health workers and release all those wrongfully detained.

DVB reported that the military junta has been blocking aid groups from providing relief in Sagaing Region, the epicentre of the earthquake. The death toll stands at 4,461 with 11,366 injured one month after the earthquake. According to DVB data, at least 403 military junta air and artillery strikes have killed 309 people from 28 March to 29 April. The obstruction of humanitarian aid delivery and continued attacks on civilians and healthcare infrastructure represent grave violations of international humanitarian law. These actions have severely impacted the ability of earthquake victims to receive necessary medical treatment and relief, compounding the suffering caused by the natural disaster.

Two Political Prisoners Die in Magway Prison Clash

The Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM) announced that two political prisoners died in a clash between prison staff and prisoners at Magway Prison on 13 April 2025. On 13 April, while the military junta and local public defense forces were engaged in a shootout in front of Magway Prison, tensions also arose between prisoners and staff inside the prison. At least two people, including political prisoner Saw Shwe Aung, who was living in the prison's dormitory, were killed as a result of the shooting by prison guards. Several political prisoners and inmates were injured in the shooting, with at least five of them receiving medical treatment. Some prison staff were also reportedly injured.

PPNM also said that investigations are being conducted into political prisoners in prison regarding the situation that led to this tension. The deadly incident at Magway Prison highlights the ongoing human rights concerns regarding the treatment of political prisoners under military junta detention. Since the February 2021 coup, thousands of political prisoners have been detained in facilities across Myanmar, often facing harsh conditions, inadequate medical care, and reports of abuse and mistreatment.

At Least 30 Prisoners Killed in Earthquake at Mandalay's Obo Prison

Seven organizations working on political prisoner issues announced on 20 April that at least 30 prisoners were killed and 280 injured in the earthquake at Mandalay's Obo Prison. The dead included ten political prisoners, ten non-political prisoners, and 10 other prisoners. In addition, there are more than 280 injured, Ko Thaik Htun Oo, founder of the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM).

Ko Thaik Htun Oo stated that they are speaking based on the number of eyewitnesses and confirmed information. Just as the international community is focusing on the Myanmar earthquake, their main goal is not to leave prisons behind. The statement said that although the Obo prison was severely damaged by the earthquake, it has not received any humanitarian aid from domestic or foreign sources, and the military junta has kept the information secret. It is also said that prisoners at Obo Prison were forcibly housed in buildings damaged by the earthquake and could continue to suffer casualties from subsequent earthquakes.

On 17 April 2025, the first day of the Myanmar New Year, the military junta granted amnesty to 4,893 prisoners from prisons across the country. This includes the release of 378 political prisoners, including 100 political prisoners from Obo Prison. The high death toll and injuries at Obo Prison highlight the particularly vulnerable situation of prisoners, especially political detainees, during natural disasters. The reported lack of humanitarian assistance and the continued housing of prisoners in damaged structures raise serious concerns about the military junta's compliance with international standards for the treatment of prisoners and its obligations to protect the lives of those in its custody.

Report Details Military Junta's Rights Abuses Against Danu Minority in Southern Shan State

The military junta is increasingly targeting civilians in a campaign of extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and destruction of property against the ethnic Danu minority, according to a new report. The report by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) highlights a grave escalation of human rights abuses by the Myanmar military junta in southern Shan State's Ywangan and surrounding areas over the last three years after the illegal coup attempt.

The abuses seem to have been prompted by the growing influence of Danu and other resistance groups in the region, says the report, which documents rights abuses in 14 villages in Ywangan and neighboring Thazi Township in Mandalay Region since mid-2022. Military junta soldiers, police, and junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militias are involved in what the report calls a campaign of "systematic oppression." Since late 2023, there has also been a significant rise in aerial bombardments and artillery strikes targeting villages in Ywangan.

In one case from May 2023 documented by the group, six military junta soldiers gang-raped three women in Myet Khar Inn Village in Ywangan, which forms part of the Danu Self-Administered Zone. The women were taking shelter in the forest after being displaced by fighting. "Today, junta soldiers still peek and take pictures of young women bathing," said Ying Leng Harn of the SHRF. In late 2023, a 23-year-old woman who was assisting displaced people was arrested by the military junta's 55th Light Infantry Division and taken to Ywangan police station, where her breasts were lashed with a leather belt and a baton inserted into her vagina, according to a fellow detainee who was later released.

She was accused of funding People's Defense Forces (PDF) and given 12 years in prison under the Anti-Terrorism Law. Last December, the Kalaw-based division torched nearly 170 houses in Min Palaung Village west of Ywangan in retaliation for attacks by the Danu resistance on military junta positions. Over the border in Thazi, military junta troops torched some 210 houses between 2021 and 2024, stealing valuables before setting fire to them, the report says. According to the SHRF, more than 300 Ywangan residents were detained by the military junta between 2022 and 2024. Over 100 remain in detention, some already sentenced and some awaiting trial. Three people have died in custody, one pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage in jail and was subsequently released, and two detained men have since gone missing.

Increased military junta airstrikes and artillery attacks since November last year also inflicted civilian casualties, with three civilians killed in January. More than 1,000 people have been displaced in Ywangan due to the military junta's attacks and receive barely any humanitarian assistance, Ying Leng Harn said. Several anti-junta groups are active in the area—the Danu People's Liberation Army, the Danu State National Defense Army, two Danu PDF groups, the Ywangan PDF, and the Gyobyu Urban Guerilla Force.

While Shan State is home to several ethnic armed organizations that have been battling for autonomy for decades, Ywangan had been peaceful until the 2021 coup, according to the SHRF.

The SHRF report documents systematic patterns of violence that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual violence as a weapon of war, deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, and collective punishment of communities perceived to support resistance forces. The targeting of the Danu minority represents an alarming escalation in the military junta's campaign against ethnic communities, particularly those with growing resistance movements.

Sagaing Earthquake's Devastating Impact on Myanmar

One Month After Earthquake, Myanmar Survivors Still Struggling Without Adequate Support

One month after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar, tens of thousands of people in hard-hit cities, towns and villages are still struggling to recover, local relief volunteers told Myanmar Now this week. Several volunteers say the military junta's sluggish and inadequate response to last month's earthquake has forced survivors in central Myanmar and southern Shan State to depend largely on local social welfare groups for aid.

"So far, we haven't seen any support from the military junta," a man from Mandalay told Myanmar Now. "The recovery efforts are being carried out by volunteers and young people who are doing all they can to help." In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, the struggle to clear debris and rubble has stalled business recovery, keeping daily life far from normal. "Damaged buildings are still scattered across the city, and there's no clear plan in place to demolish and clear them," a woman from Mandalay told Myanmar Now. "Some of these tilted structures are extremely dangerous, yet they remain untouched. While some demolitions are being handled by charity groups, others require residents to pay between 10 million kyat (US $2,270) and 20 million kyat ($4,550) for demolition."

A Mandalay-based relief group told Myanmar Now it has provided rent assistance to more than 30 people displaced by the quake, as temporary shelters prepare to close by month's end and many residents remain unable to return home—especially as aftershocks continue to rattle the city. Local sources from earthquake-devastated parts of Sagaing Region raised concerns about the slow and inadequate recovery efforts in their areas, saying they couldn't rebuild on their own.

Nearly 90 percent of the town's infrastructure was damaged, and at least 2,000 religious buildings, including monasteries and nunneries on the Sagaing Hill and Min Wun Hill, were also affected by the devastating earthquake on 28 March. Due to the military junta's inadequate recovery assistance, many residents of Thea Taw, a small town in southern Mandalay Region's Wundwin Township, say they are also still struggling with post-quake demolition and debris removal.

The continuing struggles of earthquake survivors across multiple regions highlight the military junta's failure to provide timely and adequate disaster response. The reliance on local volunteers and civil society organizations for essential recovery efforts underscores the disconnect between official claims of assistance and the lived reality of affected communities. Without substantial improvement in response efforts, the long-term recovery of earthquake-affected areas faces significant challenges, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.

Over 40,000 Survivors Living Outdoors One Month after Earthquake

Nearly 200,000 people have been displaced from their homes and 42,000 are living in tents and makeshift shelters one month after Myanmar's 7.7 magnitude earthquake, according to Save the Children. Seismic activity continues to prevent residents from returning to their homes.

Jeremy Stoner, the interim Asia regional director at Save the Children, stated that communities are also concerned about how they will repair important buildings, including schools, ahead of the annual monsoon or rainy season. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that it aims to reach 1.1 million people in the regions that are hardest-hit by the quake before the rainy season arrives.

The military junta in Naypyidaw has calculated that 48,834 houses, 2,045 schools, and 2,171 offices and buildings were destroyed by the earthquake. DVB reported that residents of Mandalay, Sagaing and Naypyidaw told them that the high costs of rubble clearance and demolition of destroyed buildings hinder recovery and restoration efforts. The death toll is 4,456 with 11,366 injured, according to DVB data.

The ongoing displacement of earthquake survivors highlights the severe humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, with tens of thousands of people lacking adequate shelter as the monsoon season approaches. The extensive damage to infrastructure, particularly schools and homes, will have long-term impacts on communities already suffering from the political crisis since the February 2021 coup.

Activities of the Resistance Organisations and the National Unity Government

Union Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than Meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Online

The National Unity Government of Myanmar published that the Union Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current Chair of ASEAN, met online on 18 April 2025. During the meeting, Malaysian Prime Minister informed that the ASEAN Chair and the ASEAN Member States discussed issues including enhancing relations with all member states and effectively delivering and distributing humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

The online meeting between the Union Prime Minister and the ASEAN Chair highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts to address Myanmar's crisis through engagement with stakeholders.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was in Bangkok, Thailand, also met with military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on 17 April and discussed the urgent humanitarian needs of the Myanmar people and the return to normalcy in Myanmar, he said on his social media.

NUG Calls for International Sanctions Against Military Junta Over Forced Conscription

The National Unity Government (NUG) has called on the UN, ASEAN member states, and the international community to immediately impose effective sanctions on the military junta to stop the acts of forced conscription as soon as possible, saying that forced military service in Myanmar constitutes a crime against humanity, as well as forced labor and human trafficking.

Since February 2024, the military junta has been conducting extensive research into the forced conscription of young men between the ages of 18 and 35, and on 28 March, the Ministry of Human Rights of NUG released a report titled "Forced Military Service: The Reality of Forced Military Service in Myanmar." The report documents the military junta's human rights abuses, based on testimonies from young men who were forced into military service. These young men were arrested by the military junta at their homes, workplaces, and checkpoints, and were recruited through threats to their families, coercion, and forced recruitment. These young people include minors and those with physical or mental disabilities who are not eligible for military service. The NUG also found lists of names of young people eligible for military service and extortion requests from their family members.

The UN, ASEAN and the international community are urged to immediately impose effective economic sanctions and ban arms exports, including jet fuel, to stop the military junta's actions. The NUG also urges neighboring countries to provide humanitarian assistance to those fleeing forced recruitment.

The NUG's report and appeal highlight the humanitarian implications of the military junta's conscription practices, which appear to violate international humanitarian law through the forced recruitment of minors and persons with disabilities. The military junta's forced conscription practices clearly meet the legal characterisation of crimes against humanity, forced labour, and human trafficking under international law.

NUG Ministry Delivers Nearly 560 Million Kyats in Humanitarian Aid During March

Nearly 560 million kyats (approximately $127,000) in humanitarian aid was delivered to those in urgent need during March 2025, according to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management under the National Unity Government (NUG).

The funds, totalling approximately 559.9 million kyats (approximately $127,250), came from public donations made by pro-democracy communities and were allocated to support 208,756 internally displaced people with emergency food supplies, amounting to 496.3 million kyats (approximately $112,800). An additional 31.9 million kyats (approximately $7,250) was provided as emergency aid for 135 fallen civilians and 469 people injured in clashes.

The ministry also reported allocating 2.5 million kyats (approximately $570) in emergency assistance to political prisoners and their families, 25.3 million kyats (approximately $5,750) for victims of natural disasters, 1.1 million kyats (approximately $250) for vulnerable civilians and families, and 2.8 million kyats (approximately $640) for general humanitarian support.

The substantial humanitarian assistance provided by the NUG demonstrates the continuing efforts of pro-democracy communities to support vulnerable populations across Myanmar. The distribution of aid to over 200,000 internally displaced people highlights the scale of displacement caused by ongoing conflict, whilst support for political prisoners and their families reflects the broader impact of the military junta's crackdown on civil society.

Bangladeshi Fishermen Released by Arakan Army

55 Bangladeshi fishermen held by the Arakan Army (AA) were handed over to Bangladeshi authorities on 16 April 2025. A Maungdaw resident close to the Arakan Army told that during the military junta's rule, Bangladeshis would enter the Rakhine Sea without permission and fish without authorisation. Now that the Arakan Army has systematically controlled its territory, Bangladeshis who enter the Rakhine Sea are being systematically arrested and returned.

The Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Arakan Army after they entered Myanmar's territorial waters and fished between January and March, according to the Arakan Bay News, a news outlet based in Rakhine State. They were allegedly handed over directly to the Bangladesh Border Guard Force by Arakan Army officials. The Arakan Army controls the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, which is more than 270 kilometres long.

The handover of the detained fishermen demonstrates the growing territorial control and administrative functions being exercised by the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. This development reflects the shifting power dynamics in the region as ethnic armed organisations have expanded their authority in areas previously under military junta control.

NUG Defense Ministry Orders Inspection of Prisoner Rights in Military Prisons

The Chief of Staff of the People's Defense Forces (PDF) has instructed the Office of the Martial Law to inspect the rights of prisoners serving sentences in military prisons and detention centres under the command of the Ministry of Defense of the National Unity Government. The order was issued on 24 April 2025 to ensure that the management of military prisons and detention centre is in accordance with relevant procedural frameworks.

The Office of the Military Prosecutor is responsible for inspecting and ensuring that convicted and detained persons enjoy their rights in accordance with the law, procedures, regulations, and orders. During the inspection, the number of prisoners, health care, and living and food rights of prisoners must be examined, whether there are delays in investigating cases, and whether the arrests and detentions are in accordance with the law.

This directive from the NUG's Ministry of Defense demonstrates an effort to establish accountability and adherence to legal standards within areas under resistance control. By focusing on prisoner rights, detention procedures, and conditions of confinement, the NUG appears to be working to distinguish its approach to justice and detention from that of the military junta, whose detention facilities have been widely criticized for human rights violations. The order reflects the NUG's efforts to build institutional frameworks that comply with international legal standards even during an active conflict.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for International Action on Forced Displacement

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, addressed the Economic and Social Council Special Meeting on Forced Displacement and Refugee Protection in New York on 24 April.

The Ambassador stated that in Myanmar, many Rohingya are being internally displaced and are taking refuge in Bangladesh and elsewhere. The unlawful military coup and its subsequent atrocities since February 2021 have caused disastrous impact on the country and its people. The scale of displacement and people suffering is staggering.

OCHA has estimated 3.5 million people being displaced from homes, with the actual figure likely higher. 19.9 million people are currently in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Over 100,000 homes and religious facilities were destroyed or burnt down. Hundreds of thousands have also fled to neighbouring countries. The recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake has compounded the people's suffering at an unprecedented level.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun stated that the people's suffering and forced displacement in Myanmar stems from the military dictatorship. It is utmost important for the international community to support Myanmar people's endeavour in ending the military junta and establishing a federal democratic union.

He said that finding a sustainable solution by addressing the root causes of the crisis will pave the way to the successful return of refugees including Rohingya in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner. The Ambassador concluded that it is now high time for the international community to take stock of this stark reminder and act seriously.

Myanmar Ambassador Warns Against Nuclear Cooperation with Military Junta

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, addressed the General Debate of the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York on 30 April.

In this meeting, Ambassador reaffirms Myanmar’s position that the only guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is their total elimination. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun said that under the elected civilian government, Myanmar ratified nuclear safety conventions and signed the TPNW. However, Myanmar's nuclear cooperation plans were derailed by the attempted military coup in 2021.

The Ambassador stated that even after the devastating earthquake last month, the military junta is more preoccupied by launching indiscriminate aerial and artillery attacks on civilians and developing their nuclear power plan. The military junta that is uncooperative with international organizations will also be uncooperative with the IAEA. He said the military junta that weaponizes humanitarian aid will also weaponize nuclear technology.

The Ambassador said Myanmar has serious concern that the military junta may attempt to acquire nuclear technology for military applications under the guise of peaceful purposes. He said any international cooperation should be extended to Myanmar only when the military dictatorship is ended and democracy is restored. In his final part of the statement, the Ambassador appealed to all Member States to cut the flow of arms, weapons, jet fuel and dual-use items to the military junta.

Response of the International Community

UN Says Over 6 Million People Need Urgent Assistance One Month After Myanmar Earthquake

UN Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing on 28 April 2025 that more than 6 million people need urgent assistance in the most impacted areas, one month after devastating earthquakes struck Myanmar.

Dujarric said that in some places, many people remain too afraid to go back into their homes, worried they could collapse at any moment with the ongoing aftershocks. He said at least 55,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and countless people continue to live in the open, sometimes in makeshift tents, exposed to harsh weather.

The UN spokesperson said they and their partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance. Since the earthquakes, at least 600,000 people have been reached with safe water, with sanitation and hygiene support. Nearly half a million people received food assistance, and more than 115,000 people received shelter and other critical support.

Dujarric said this is a critical moment for the response. Additional and quick disbursement of resources and sustained access to all communities are vital to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further.

WHO Warns of Increasing Health Risks Following Myanmar Earthquakes

The WHO has warned that tens of thousands of people are facing a rapidly increasing health risk after two earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 6.4 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar on 28 March, displacing thousands of people from the affected areas. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, dilapidated infrastructure and limited health services are driving the risk of disease outbreaks, it said.

Myanmar has the highest TB burden in Southeast Asia, according to the WHO. An estimated 167,000 people fell ill with TB in 2020, and about 22,000 died. This includes 2,900 people living with HIV. An epidemiological survey conducted in early April during the earthquake disaster found that disease surveillance systems were still in place in some areas, but access to treatment remained limited.

With the onset of the monsoon season, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing. In 2023, Myanmar reported more than 16,000 dengue cases and 77 deaths, most of them children. The increased mosquito breeding in the earthquake-hit areas is making it more vulnerable to the disease, especially for pregnant women and children who live in crowded areas without proper drainage or sanitation.

The WHO says waterborne diseases are a growing threat in Southeast Asia. Myanmar has a history of cholera outbreaks and the risk of the disease is increasing. The coming weeks are critical, and coordinated action is urgently needed to restore basic health services, continue access to treatment, and prevent a health crisis, the WHO said. WHO has appealed for $8 million to continue emergency response and life-saving assistance in the hardest-hit areas. It is also calling on individuals, businesses and charities to contribute.

The health situation in earthquake-affected areas represents a compounding crisis for communities already experiencing the humanitarian impacts of both the natural disaster and the ongoing political conflict. The increased risk of disease outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable populations, underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian assistance to prevent a secondary public health emergency in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

Over 4.3 Million People Need Clean Water and Sanitation after Myanmar Earthquake

More than 4.3 million people in earthquake-hit Myanmar are in urgent need of clean water and sanitation assistance, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said. The earthquake caused widespread damage to water supply systems, with more than 42,000 toilets collapsing, and frequent power outages causing water supply difficulties. Humanitarian partners aim to provide clean water, emergency sanitation and hygiene assistance to one million people in need before the situation worsens.

Emergency shelter, cash assistance, safe drinking water, food, maternal health care and healthcare are immediate priorities for the earthquake-affected areas, UNOCHA said, adding that the rapid restoration of livelihoods, education and infrastructure is crucial. The statement also said that three weeks after the 28 March earthquake, the affected people still lack safe shelter, clean water, electricity, and essential services.

The continued aftershocks have hampered efforts to rebuild homes and recover. More than 40,000 homes were damaged by the initial quake, and families are still afraid to return home, UNOCHA said. The number of people in need of shelter and basic household items has now increased from one million to 5.2 million, UNOCHA said.

The massive scale of humanitarian needs following the earthquake presents an extraordinary challenge for aid organizations working in Myanmar. The damaged infrastructure, ongoing aftershocks. The urgent need for clean water, sanitation, and shelter underscores the risk of secondary health crises if humanitarian assistance cannot reach affected populations quickly and at scale.

Japan to Send JICA Expert Team to Assess Myanmar Earthquake Damage

The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar announced on 26 April 2025 that a JICA expert team will be dispatched on 27 April to assess the damage caused by the earthquake in Myanmar. The team will depart from Japan on 29 April and will visit the earthquake-affected areas, including Yangon and Mandalay, until 3 May. They will then conduct a thorough assessment of the current situation and humanitarian assistance needs in the earthquake-affected areas, the Japanese Embassy said in a statement.

Following the earthquake in Myanmar, the Japanese government dispatched a team of medical technicians for disaster relief (JDR), provided emergency relief supplies, and provided emergency financial assistance through international organizations. The Japanese embassy said in a statement that it will continue to provide assistance as needed. 

Japan's deployment of expert assessment teams represents an important step in the international response to Myanmar's earthquake disaster. The need for comprehensive damage assessment is critical for tailoring humanitarian assistance to affected communities. This initiative follows Japan's earlier medical and financial assistance and demonstrates ongoing international commitment to addressing the humanitarian consequences of the earthquake, even amid the complex political situation in Myanmar.

IRC Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Myanmar Following Earthquake

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has warned that the humanitarian situation in Myanmar is worsening for those affected by natural disasters and conflict across the country. The hardest-hit areas, including Mandalay, Sagaing, Nay Pyi Taw, and some areas in Shan State, are said to be facing a crisis amid the devastation.

Mohammed Riyas, Director of IRC Myanmar, said, "The earthquake has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are living in makeshift shelters or overcrowded tents. With food prices rising in the wake of the disaster, many families are struggling to eat less and are in dire need of emergency food and cash assistance." "The scale of the damage is severe and the need for assistance is immense," said a senior IRC staff member based in Yangon. "We are particularly concerned about girls, displaced people and women who are at high risk of gender-based violence." He said more international financial support is needed to provide life-saving assistance, restore essential services and prevent further loss of life.

In the month since the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March killed more than 3,800 people, the IRC said it had provided health care, water and sanitation programs, protection services, and cash assistance to 10,133 earthquake-affected people.

The IRC's assessment underscores the compounding crises facing Myanmar, where the impact of the earthquake is magnified by ongoing conflict and pre-existing humanitarian challenges. The organization’s emphasis on the particular vulnerabilities of women and girls highlights gender-specific protection concerns that often emerge in displacement settings. While the IRC has reached over 10,000 people with assistance, the scale of need far outstrips current humanitarian response capacity, pointing to the urgent need for expanded international support.

EU Extends Targeted Sanctions on Myanmar Military Junta Until April 2026

The European Union has extended targeted sanctions against 106 individuals and 22 entities, including Min Aung Hlaing and military generals, until April 2026, due to ongoing serious human rights violations in Myanmar. The EU has extended sanctions annually since the 2021 coup and the repression of the people, and now they have extended them for another year.

The EU reiterates its strongest condemnation of the Myanmar military junta's crackdown on protesters since 1 February 2021 and calls for an end to all forms of violence and the release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners. The EU is also ready to take further tough measures targeting those responsible for the ongoing violence and serious human rights violations in Myanmar. The statement also stated that the EU is committed to continuing to support the people of Myanmar in their efforts to build a peaceful future for democracy, human rights, accountability and responsibility.

Those sanctioned by the EU include junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, members of the military junta, ministers, members of the judiciary, and generals of the army, navy, and air force, businessmen who support the military junta, and members of the election commission. The 22 entities subject to economic sanctions include military-owned companies, state-owned and military junta-controlled private companies, the Ministry of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guard Police.

Sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes, trade bans, visa bans, including arms exports, and financial sanctions.

The EU's extension of targeted sanctions for two years, rather than the previous annual renewals, signals a more sustained approach to pressuring the military junta and represents one of the strongest international sanctions regimes against Myanmar's military leadership. The comprehensive nature of these sanctions, targeting both individuals and entities across military, political, and economic sectors, demonstrates the EU's commitment to addressing human rights violations in Myanmar through restrictions on travel, assets, trade, and arms exports. This extension comes at a critical time when the military junta faces mounting international criticism for its conduct during and after the recent earthquake.

UN Reports Military Junta Continued Attacks Despite Earthquake Ceasefire

The UN says the military junta is continuing deadly military operations, including air and artillery strikes, despite a ceasefire declared after a March earthquake killed thousands of people. The 28 March earthquake has prompted international relief efforts to help hundreds of thousands of people, and the international community has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting.

The military junta declared a 20-day ceasefire on 2 April, and after high-level talks led by the Malaysian prime minister, the temporary suspension was extended until 30 April. However, fighting has continued, and airstrikes have reportedly increased since the ceasefire was announced. The UN human rights office reported that the military junta carried out at least 207 attacks, including 140 airstrikes and 24 artillery strikes, between 28 March, the day the earthquake struck, and 24 April. There have been 172 attacks since the ceasefire was announced on 2 April, with 73 of them occurring in earthquake-affected areas.

The military junta carried out an average of 9.7 air or drone strikes per day between 2 and 18 April, killing more than six people each day, the statement said, adding that 105 people were killed in airstrikes during this period. The ceasefire was supposed to halt all military activity and allow for a humanitarian response, but that is not happening, said James Rodehaver, the UN human rights representative in Myanmar.

The UN's documentation of extensive military operations during a declared ceasefire period provides authoritative evidence that contradicts the military junta's public commitments to pause fighting for humanitarian purposes. The detailed accounting of attacks, particularly in earthquake-affected areas where relief operations were underway, raises serious concerns about the military junta's willingness to prioritize humanitarian needs over military objectives. The UN's findings suggest that international diplomatic initiatives, including ASEAN-led efforts, have failed to secure meaningful changes in the military junta's conduct on the ground.

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Date: 30 April 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York