Bridge to Nowhere

Insight Myanmar

Episode #331: “My friend told me it is like the crumbling of the world, because everywhere, everywhere is destruction.”

Burmese Buddhist nun Sayalay (who has chosen not to give her full Pāḷi name for safety concerns) speaks about the humanitarian crisis following the devastating earthquake in central Myanmar. Focusing on the country’s spiritual heartland, the Sagaing Hills, home to centuries-old monasteries and nunneries, she describes how the region was hit hard, with monks and nuns killed, buildings collapsed, and survivors left without clean water, shelter, or medical aid. Critical infrastructure, including bridges connecting Sagaing to Mandalay, was badly damaged, delaying relief. Junta restrictions further obstructed rescue efforts, blocking aid and forbidding the use of essential heavy machinery.

It's mainly volunteers who are working rescue operations, but they are severely limited as to what they can use because of the junta’s paranoia; even basic tools are sometimes confiscated. Hiring machinery to clear rubble costs more than many nunneries can afford, yet without it, decomposing bodies pose serious health risks. Survivors, especially young nuns, suffer from trauma and nightmares. Some speak of visitations from the dead, pleading for help from beneath the rubble.

Sayalay, a former nurse, is coordinating aid through her nonprofit, Metta Stream Foundation, and stresses the importance of spiritual action. “When we practice mettā bhavana, it’s not only for us to recite…but we need to do it physically.” Her message is one of compassion, resilience, and a call for global solidarity with those suffering in Myanmar.