Myanmar declares week of mourning as death toll rises following earthquake
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What are the main stories covered in this episode?
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles, and in the early hours of Tuesday 1st April, these are our main stories. The situation in the Burmese city of Mandalay is said to be dire, four days after a devastating earthquake. Hopes of finding people alive under the rubble are fading. The US has called on all sides in Gaza to respect international humanitarian law after Israeli forces killed 15 Palestinian medics and aid workers, but it blamed Hamas for everything that's happened in the territory. France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the strongest candidate in the polls for the elections in 2027, has strongly attacked her conviction for embezzlement.
Also in this podcast... Do you know a girl called Katie Leonard? Yeah. Describe each other as friends then. Is she dead then?
What is the current situation in Myanmar following the earthquake?
How a TV drama looking at online misogyny is causing political debate in the UK and beyond. We begin in Myanmar. A religious leader in Mandalay says the humanitarian situation in the country's second city following Friday's earthquake is dire. People camped out in the streets for a fourth night. One rescue worker in Mandalay has been in touch with the BBC. He wanted to remain anonymous because of fear of the military authorities. He says that some villages around the city are even worse affected than the city itself. The rescue worker described pulling out more than 100 dead bodies in one small village alone. One of our producers has voiced his words.
People are using their hands to remove the debris. We found a child trapped under the rubble. I gave the child a straw so the water could reach through the debris. Sometimes I can hear voices that are calling for help. We're trying to save the lives of people trapped – But even if we manage to get them out and bring them to the hospital, they can't treat them. There's no electricity or water. There's a shortage of fuel, so we can't get any water from the water pumps or transport the injured. Normally, there'd be many more young people to support us in the rescue efforts. Because of the conscription law, many young people have left the country or joined resistance groups. If they come back to the cities, they'll be arrested. So there aren't too many young helping hands.
Another aftershock happened and people are trying to rescue as good as they can. The problem is that some of the buildings are nearly collapsed and nobody can help. The real need is to get the machinery to clear all of this. We need the help of the international community.
Meanwhile, the military rulers in Myanmar have declared a week of national mourning as the death toll from the earthquake rises. The judges said on Monday that around 2,000 people are confirmed dead, but the number of those killed is difficult to verify and is predicted to be much higher.
How is the international community responding to the crisis in Myanmar?
As aid workers struggle to reach many areas, the military has continued to launch ground attacks against rebel groups in the region worst affected by the quake, Saigang. The UN Assistant Secretary General, Kani Wignaraja, said a ceasefire is needed for relief efforts to go ahead.
you've got to look at this as a moment to actually push for peace. And I would urge the countries of ASEAN and the bordering region countries to really urge a moment now for mediation and peace. This population just cannot take any more hits.
For more on the extent of the devastation, our correspondent Anna Foster sent this report from the Thai-Myanmar border.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What are the main stories covered in this episode?
0:37–1:35
2
What is the current situation in Myanmar following the earthquake?
1:35–3:45
3
How is the international community responding to the crisis in Myanmar?
3:45–9:48
4
What is the impact of the Marine Le Pen verdict in France?
9:48–15:45
5
What are the implications of Ukraine's mineral deal with the United States?
15:45–18:53
6
How did an Irish crime gang become a global criminal organization?
18:53–34:36
Speakers
13 identifiedMore from Global News Podcast
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