UN Dispatches Emergency Coordinator and Special Envoy to Myanmar After Devastating Earthquake

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the dispatch of Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher and Special Envoy Julie Bishop to Myanmar following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28. The earthquake, coupled with ongoing civil conflict, has created a humanitarian crisis, with the death toll rising to 3,000 and an estimated 20 million people in need of urgent assistance. Fletcher will coordinate relief efforts on the ground, while Bishop will work to strengthen peace and dialogue initiatives. Guterres urged the international community to mobilize funds and ensure rapid, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access. The UN also noted the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera, dengue, and malaria, due to damage to healthcare facilities.