TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) on Monday said that Taiwan is unable to send search and rescue teams to quake-affected areas of Myanmar due to continued fighting between the country's junta and rebels.
In response to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar Friday, the National Fire Agency placed 126 search and rescue personnel, six search and rescue dogs, and 15 tons of rescue equipment on standby, per CNA. However, on Sunday, the NFA said 13 international search and rescue teams have been deployed, another 13 are being mobilized, the overall disaster response capacity is sufficient, and Taiwan search and rescue teams have been stood down from standby.
After seeing the news, many Myanmar netizens left messages on social media thanking Taiwan for extending a helping hand, per CNA. They also questioned why Myanmar's military government allowed China into the country but did not permit Taiwan, with its extensive experience and professional disaster relief capabilities, to assist in the rescue efforts.
When asked about the status of the search and rescue teams during a Legislative Yuan session on Monday, Liu said her ministry had conveyed messages to Myanmar expressing willingness to assist, per FTV News. However, she said over the past one or two days, fighting appeared to have continued between Myanmar’s military junta and internal opposition forces.
Liu said, “We believe that if our search and rescue team goes, we cannot fully ensure their safety from Taiwan.” Since it was not possible to proceed under these conditions, Liu said the team was stood down and returned to normal duties.
On Saturday, pro-democracy rebel groups reported that junta forces conducted aerial bombing of Chang-U Township in the northwestern Sagaing region, the quake's epicenter, per the BBC. The National Unity Government, the government in exile following the 2021 military coup, said it would start a pause in "offensive military operations, except for defensive actions" impacted by the earthquake starting Sunday.
The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar's longest-standing ethnic armies, on Sunday accused the junta of continuing to launch airstrikes targeting civilian areas “even as the population suffers tremendously from the earthquake,” per Reuters.
