Myanmar is reeling from a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake, but the devastation goes beyond natural disaster. With over 3,000 dead and counting, the country’s civil war rages on. Instead of a humanitarian pause, Myanmar’s military launched airstrikes just hours after the quake. Is the junta using the disaster to tighten its grip? History suggests yes. In 2008, after Cyclone Nargis killed 100,000 people, the military held a rigged referendum to cement its power. Now, with elections set for December, is history repeating itself? Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to shield Myanmar’s military, supplying weapons and blocking UN action. China plays both sides, brokering ceasefires while securing its economic interests. Russia, on the other hand, has doubled down—signing a nuclear deal with the junta just last month. So, where does this leave the people of Myanmar? Can international aid reach them without empowering the military? Or will Myanmar be left to suffer in silence—trapped between rubble and repression? Ananya Dutta decodes in this episode of Grey Zone.

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