Earthquake kills and injures thousands in Southeast Asia

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake last week that struck near the city of Mandalay in central Myanmar sent out shock waves that buried people beneath the rubble of hundreds of buildings in the country once known as Burma and in neighboring Thailand. A skyscraper under construction in the Thai capital of Bangkok dramatically collapsed on top of dozens of workers. Myanmar is embroiled in brutal civil war which has delayed international aid to victims of what could be the country’s deadliest earthquake.

Class discussion: Myanmar’s military rulers continued bombing rebel-held areas after the widespread devastation of the earthquake. How often do political conflicts around the world make natural disasters much worse? Is lifesaving aid to innocent victims sometimes delayed or blocked to punish political opponents? Have politicians in the United States ever fought disaster aid to states led by an opposing party? Do political and economic ties determine how much relief aid one nation will send another?