Recent powerful earthquakes, ongoing military violence, and political instability have continued to draw international attention to Myanmar. The United Nations, ASEAN, the United States, and regional neighbors such as Bangladesh, among others, have expressed concerns about humanitarian needs and the continued impunity of the Myanmar military junta.
Citing rescue efforts, the junta declared a ceasefire following the powerful earthquake. However, according to a UN statement, it carried out 243 attacks, including 171 airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of over 200 civilians. Regarding this situation, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, commented that, despite crises unfolding worldwide, the suffering of the Myanmar people, who are caught in the midst of violence, cannot be forgotten. 1
In response to the humanitarian crisis, Marcoluigi Corsi, Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. for Myanmar, called for urgent and extensive international support to meet the emergency needs of earthquake-affected people in Myanmar. He further urged swift action to provide funding and assistance, warning that delays could lead to further loss of life and urging immediate aid in rebuilding earthquake-affected areas. 2
On the educational front, Amnesty International has called on the United States and other international governments to fund education programs in Myanmar. The funding cuts for these programs amount to over $70 million, which are critical for students, teachers, and families facing military conflict in Myanmar. The statement emphasized that failure to act urgently could lead to the risk of a “lost generation”. 3
On the diplomatic stage, the Bangladeshi government initially agreed in principle to a UN proposal to establish a humanitarian corridor through its territory to Arakan State. 4 However, it later clarified that unresolved issues remain, and a final agreement to build the Arakan corridor has not yet been reached. 5
On the diplomatic stage, regarding the attendance of Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing at the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit, the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) sent a letter on 15 April to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government. The letter expressed shock that Bangladesh did not formally object to or oppose the attendance of the Myanmar military junta leader, who is subject to an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for human rights violations, at the BIMSTEC summit. 6
In parallel developments, on 28 April, the Burma Research Institute (BRI) organized a briefing on the situation in Myanmar at the US Congress, attended by US congressional members and Christian religious leaders, held at Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. During the briefing, US congressional members urged the Trump administration to promptly implement the Burma Act, enacted by the US government, to provide assistance to the Myanmar people. 7
Meanwhile, the military junta, which has been weaponizing post-earthquake humanitarian aid, could also use nuclear technology to kill Myanmar citizens, warned U Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the UN. He made this statement during the 3rd Preparatory Committee for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty Review Conference 2026, held at the UN headquarters in New York from 28 April to 9 May. 8
On the issue of transnational crime, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on 5 May that it had imposed sanctions on Col. Saw Chit Thu, leader of the Border Guard Force/Karen National Army (BGF/KNA), and his sons, Saw Htoo El Mu and Saw Chit Chit, for cybercrimes (online scams). The US stated that the KNA-controlled region, located on the Thai-Burmese border, is home to multiple cyber scam syndicates, and the KNA has benefitted from its connection to Myanmar’s military in its criminal operations. 9
In summary, while the United Nations and Amnesty International highlight Myanmar’s humanitarian and educational needs, effective support has yet to be realized. The sanctions on the KNA linked to the military junta indicate that the US is focusing on transnational crimes. However, broader actions to hold the Myanmar military accountable for widespread crimes and human rights violations remain absent. Furthermore, as Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the UN U Kyaw Moe Tun has warned, the junta’s overt attempts to weaponize international aid and build nuclear facilities pose a significant challenge to the principles of impartial humanitarianism.
1 Over 200 killed in 243 Myanmar military attacks since earthquake, says UN, DVB, 5 May 2025
2 UN official calls for swift action as earthquake deepens Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis, OCHA, 1 May 2025
3 Myanmar: Life-saving education funding must be restored following USAID cuts ? Amnesty Int’l, 8 May 2025
4 Bangladesh agrees to UN humanitarian corridor proposal to Myanmar’s Arakan State, Narinjara, 27 Apr 2025
5 Bangladesh says no agreement yet on providing humanitarian aid to Rakhine, DVB, 5 May 2025
6 SAC-M questions Bangladesh’s failure to oppose Myanmar junta leader’s attendance at BIMSTEC meeting, DVB, 3 May 2025
7 US lawmakers push for swift activation of Burma Act, DVB, 29 Apr 2025
8 Myanmar military could use nuclear technology as weapon of killing, says ambassador, DVB, 1 May 2025
9 US imposes sanctions on BGF leader Saw Chit Thu and his two sons for cybercrime, KIC, 6 May 2025