2025-04-02 – The death toll following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar last week are estimated to have already surpassed 3000, with more than 4500 people injured. Concerns are growing about the looming monsoon season, as thousands have lost their homes, and families are sleeping in the streets. These conditions are likely to give rise to long-term humanitarian crises, including infectious disease outbreaks (such as cholera), food and shelter insecurity, and mass migration of displaced people.

After extensive discussions with Consular officials and Canada Border Services Agency Liaison Officers at the Canadian Embassies in both Yangon, Myanmar, and Bangkok, Thailand, CMAT initially received verbal approval from the Myanmar government for our Rapid Assessment Team (RAT) to use the “Visa on Arrival” process to enter Myanmar, and we were awaiting written confirmation.

However, diplomatic efforts to secure our entry through this program were ultimately unsuccessful. The Rapid Assessment Team has now regrouped in Bangkok, Thailand, where they continue to work closely with both the Canadian and Myanmar embassies to obtain visas through the standard process. To date, we are unaware of any Western humanitarian organizations which have been granted entry into Myanmar since the earthquake, and many international teams remain staged in Bangkok.

As such, our Rapid Assessment Team has been liaising with both embassies to help facilitate the visa process, while the support team back home continues to work on logistics such as last minute flight and accommodation changes, screening volunteers to build potential teams, communicating with our WHO colleagues, liaising with partner agencies, and exploring other avenues for possible assistance.