4/23/25, 1:31 PM Myanmar: Earthquake shows why freedom of expression must be protected - ARTICLE 19 support the deployment of emergency communication tools, and back independent media and local responders best able to provide life-saving information at this time. In times of crisis, unrestricted access to information is critical for coordinating (https://www.article19.org) relief efforts and protecting lives – restoring it must be a priority alongside humanitarian assistance. According to Reuters, (https://www.reuters.com/world/asiapacific/myanmar-junta-should-widen-access-earthquake-rescuersaid-rights-groups-say-2025-04-02/) the death toll has exceeded 2,886 and will likely continue to grow, with thousands injured and countless still trapped under the rubble. Entire communities in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw have been devastated. The climate crisis is intensifying natural disasters across Southeast Asia, which often hit hardest in countries already torn by conflict and authoritarian rule. In Myanmar, the earthquake’s devastation has been compounded by the military junta’s repressive response: blocking information, restricting internet access, and hindering humanitarian aid. The internet and social media restrictions and the blocking of virtual private networks (VPNs) further isolate the affected regions and obscure the true scale of the devastation. The military junta’s ongoing crackdown on independent journalism, and the barring of international media from accessing impacted areas prevent accurate reporting and independent scrutiny. The information blackout (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/asia/myanmarearthquake-internet-censorship.html) not only silences survivors but also conceals the extent of the State Administration Council’s (SAC) mismanagement of disaster response efforts, violating affected communities’ access to information and undermining the humanitarian response. Moreover, the destruction of physical infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, telecom towers, and electricity lines, combined with overloaded and restricted digital networks, is severely hampering lifesaving aid efforts. With entire towns reduced to rubble and survivors forced to dig through debris with bare hands, the failure to provide is actively contributing to preventable deaths. https://www.article19.org/resources/myanmar-earthquake-shows-why-freedom-of-expression-must-be-protected/ 2/4