US Sends Meager Disaster Relief Team to Myanmar After USAID Cuts
Following a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the United States dispatched a three-person assessment team, a response criticized as inadequate compared to the substantial aid efforts of China and Russia. This limited deployment, arriving five days after the disaster, has raised concerns about the US’s diminished role in global disaster relief, particularly given the urgent need for clean water, food, shelter, and medicine. Experts highlight that the initial five days are crucial for rescue efforts, a window the US response missed, potentially resulting in preventable fatalities. The scaled-back response is attributed to recent cuts to USAID and reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy.
John Q. Hosedrinker