Episode #323: Aftershocks
“Quite frankly, and I might catch flak for this, but I'll say it: there is a special place in hell for those who seek to exploit or weaponize this aid, or block this aid for political purposes from getting to those affected communities.”
Jack Myint delivers a deeply personal and urgent message in response to the catastrophic, March 28th earthquake in central Myanmar, which measured 7.7 on the Richter scale. A Myanmar citizen and a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS) in Washington, D.C., he emphasizes the unprecedented scale of the disaster that devastated Mandalay and surrounding areas, toppling hospitals, monasteries, universities and homes. He notes that the official death toll will likely be an undercount—thousands may have been killed. Many are still trapped under the rubble, and there is a dire lack of medical supplies, electricity, shelter and blood for transfusions.
Jack describes how the initial response has largely come from everyday citizens, with locals using hammers and homemade tools to rescue trapped people. He calls these citizen-led efforts heroic but insufficient given the scale of devastation. He also stresses the degree of destruction of cultural and religious landmarks in Mandalay, deepening the national trauma.
Given Myanmar’s armed conflict and political chaos since the 2021 coup, Jack makes a passionate plea for international aid that transcends politics, urging all listeners to support humanitarian campaigns. He argues that time is of the essence, and bureaucratic or political delays—whether from fears of engaging with the junta or concerns about resistance groups' capabilities—should not hinder support.
At the policy level, Jack proposes three tracks for US support: direct US involvement through USAID and disaster response teams; cooperation with regional allies like India, Singapore, and Malaysia; and support through international organizations like the UN and ASEAN. Jack emphasizes that all three tracks are needed, and urges immediate action.
He closes by urging listeners to support Better Burma’s grassroots fundraising efforts, commending its track record of delivering apolitical aid directly to those in need, as well as to advocate for swift international action, stressing that lives are hanging in the balance and that humanitarian concerns must override political hesitation.
“This is a highly time-sensitive matter, and for those who care about Myanmar's people getting that much needed aid … the people simply don't have time to wait through the political deliberations and official lineation of how it gets done and where it goes. So in that regard, any effort that goes to empowering those to funding those [first responders] will bear the most effective results at this time.”
A note to listeners, this is Jack’s third time on the podcast. If you’d like to hear more from him, refer to the previous episodes:
· Jack Myint Part 1: He recounts his upbringing under Myanmar's military dictatorship, detailing how his unorthodox path to learning English through foreign tourists opened the door to critical thinking, activism, and a deep commitment to democratic ideals, later shaped by a politically outspoken monk who became his mentor.
· Jack Myint Part 2: In this segment, he reflects on the transformative impact of studying in the US, his evolving perspective on Aung San Suu Kyi’s legacy, Myanmar’s flawed democratic transition, and the urgency of supporting grassroots-led reform, while maintaining hope in the resilience of the Burmese people
· America Decides: Jack Myint shares prior to the 2024 U.S. election that regardless of who wins, sanctions will like remain a key diplomatic tool, but Myanmar’s future will ultimately be shaped by its own people amid worsening economic conditions, mass youth departure, and a fragmented resistance landscape.
Photo credit: Myanmar Now