The NUG, formed by elected officials ousted in 2021, appealed to the global community to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches earthquake victims directly, cautioning against any military junta attempts to reroute or block the aid.

“We are in a race against time to save lives,” the NUG said in a statement.

“Blocking these efforts will have catastrophic consequences, not just due to the earthquake’s impact but also because the junta’s ongoing brutality actively obstructs the delivery of crucial aid.”

It remains uncertain if the military is currently blocking humanitarian aid. Historically, they initially denied access to international rescue teams and emergency supplies after Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which led to over 100,000 deaths. Even when foreign aid was permitted, strict limitations were imposed.

In this case, however, Min Aung Hlaing, pointedly said on the day of the earthquake that the country would accept outside help.

Tom Andrews, a monitor on rights in Burma commissioned by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, said on X that to facilitate aid, military attacks must stop.

“The focus in Burma must be on saving lives, not taking them,” he said.