In brief
In the face of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on Friday, Mandalay General Hospital transformed its parking lot into a makeshift treatment area for injured individuals squished onto stretchers or cardboard amid extreme heat. Dr. Kyaw Zin, a dedicated surgeon, highlighted the dire situation, stating that the influx of patients has pushed the already strained health care system to its breaking point. With dwindling supplies and fractured communication systems, the military junta's struggle to manage this calamity is compounded by their prior repression of healthcare workers, making Myanmar one of the most perilous places for medical practitioners. Chaos filled the scenes outside the hospital as ambulances flared, and distressing cries for help pierced through the heat as the World Health Organization prepared to send urgent medical supplies to support the beleaguered nation.