Burma's military junta has continued to bomb rebel-held areas following the major earthquake in the country on March 28, which has killed more than 1,600 people. The UN official for human rights in the country described the attacks as "completely outrageous and unacceptable." Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews told the BBC that it was "nothing short of incredible" that the military is continuing to "drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people" after the quake. "I'm calling upon the junta to just stop, stop any of its military operations," he added. Strikes have been reported since the disaster in Shan state and in Sagaing region—the epicenter of the quake. (BBC News [6])
Amnesty International has urged [7] Burmese authorities to ensure full and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake. The group said the military must remove administrative barriers and ensure that aid reaches all affected communities without discrimination. The group stressed that the military's longstanding practice of denying aid to areas where resistance groups are active must end, especially in light of such devastation. (Jurist [8])
