Disaster In Myanmar: Challenged Networks and Relief Efforts

Report on Communication Challenges, Two Weeks After the Earthquake

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On the afternoon of 28 March 2025, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7, ‌ a record magnitude in nearly a century of Myanmar historic records, struck. The earthquake, centering around Sagaing Region, wreaked havoc in Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Innwa, Pyawbwe, and Inle, with thousands of lives and seas of broken structures. The State Administration Council (SAC), which seized power of the country, reported that 48,834 houses and buildings were destroyed and 5,275 pagodas and stupas were damaged due to the earthquake. According to the April 8 report by SAC, 3,645 individuals have passed away, 5,017 were injured, and 148 people are missing. One of the reasons for the high death rate is the communication disruption following the earthquake. 

Post-earthquake Infrastructure Damages and Restoration Challenges

Following the earthquake, communication disruptions were reported across many parts of the country. The junta’s April 7 report accounted for damages to 6,730 mobile stations with over 800 of them left to be repaired. Another report on April 9 revealed that 95 auto exchange stations of Myanmar Post and Communications were left in-operational due to the earthquake. 

Mandalay, which sustained major infrastructural damages and collapsed buildings, reportedly still has communication challenges 8 days after the disaster. The Irrawaddy's April 10 reportage also revealed major power and communication outages in Naypyidaw, Mandalay, Sagaing, Bego and Shan regions. Sagaing, where the quake destroyed 75% of the city’s buildings and infrastructure, reportedly faced major challenges with rescue and relief efforts due to lack of adequate rescue equipment, and internet, mobile and power outages.  

This widespread communication disruptions, amidst disasters, meant that the relief efforts are concentrated toward major areas whereas survivors in rural areas are facing challenges to gain traction, attention and support of relief efforts.    

This phenomenon of communication disruptions undermining rescue and relief efforts were also observed in the 2024 typhoon and subsequent flooding. September 2024 Yagi typhoon and flooding resulted in communication outages in areas around Taungyi, Nyaung Shwe, Shwe Nyaung, Aung Bann and Kalaw of south Shan state. 

Communication infrastructure in Myanmar is often vulnerable to natural disasters and repair efforts are inadequate, delayed and often take long to restore. This delay severely undermines the rescue, relief and restoration efforts. 

Natural Disaster Impacts Augmented by Man-Made Decisions

In most of the areas, fibre to home and wifi networks remain operational in the disaster struck infrastructure. However, the junta had already imposed blanked communication blackouts in at least 100 towns and cities when the earthquake struck. In 2024 alone, the junta cut off 82 townships from the internet. Additionally junta’s nationwide censorship of social media platforms have made the netizens rely on VPN(circumvention technology) for access. Use of VPN, with limited traffic, also impose access restrictions for the netizens amidst disaster.

Over (100) civil society groups have issued a statement for immediate lifting of internet restriction and it was unheard. Additionally, Starlink’s offer to provide Starlink kits to assist with communications needs and relief efforts, was seemingly ignored by the Junta. This kind of communication restrictions and negligence impose serious challenges for rescue efforts. More casualties have been unfortunately resulted due to the impact of the natural disaster augmented and amplified by deliberate communication disruptions.

Restricted Media Freedom and Access to Information Amidst Disaster

International and humanitarian aid is crucial in responding to the impacts of natural disasters - highlighting the need for independent media to report and cover the actual situation to the international community. 

One research also highlights how disaster coverage by New York Times increases humanitarian aid by the United States Government by half a million. Michigan University’s 2004 research also revealed how media coverage significantly influences aid toward assistance organizations. 

However, in reality, the junta have denied international media access after the earthquake. Junta’s spokesperson, General Zaw Min Tun, cited accommodation and power and water supply shortages to justify this denial. The 2025 Myanmar earthquake lost adequate media coverage and international attention because of this. Independent Press Council Myanmar’s (IPCM) and civil society organizations’ request to reinstate media freedom in disaster-stricken areas were also ignored by the junta. Additionally, junta’s lobbyists called for arrests of critics and dissenting online voices regarding the junta’s inadequate relief efforts. 

The nation's populace was kept on alert throughout these two weeks constantly due to continuous spreading rumors of severe aftershocks; and verification of news and access to reliable information was limited by communication challenges. Examples include circulation of imagery and videos from other major earthquakes as incidents from Myanmar incident; circulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated imagery and videos. Although public debunking of misinformation contents were initiated, internet and power shortages limited intervention effectiveness - further causing stress on the public and amplified circulation of misinformation contents.

Donation frauds in disasters are also prevalent on social media platforms such as Facebook. Fraud donation campaigns and pages diverted disaster relieving crowdsourcing efforts. Although social media platforms are trying to curb this issue, educational efforts are undermined by limited media freedom and internet shutdowns.

These situations amplified the severe lack of access to information and the impact on the ground. They also undermine restoration and systemic readiness in responding to the natural disasters.

Recommendations

We provide the following recommendations to facilitate better coordinated and adequate humanitarian aid and relief efforts as well as systemic readiness in responding to natural disasters.

1. Immediate lifting of any and all communication restrictions.

2. Restore media freedom and provide media access to acquire the affected.

3. Facilitate policy and development for community managed and built multi-protocol and localized solutions as (Resilient Communication System).

4. Establishing rugged communication systems that are resilient toward natural disasters for Disaster-resilient/Rugged Communications Infrastructure.

5. Establish emergency communications systems with community mesh networks, satellite phones and radio towers.

6. Allow the use of Satellite Internet systems.