"Part 1: Situation Overview: As COVID-19 devastates Burma, health workers and first responders are responding with strength and resilience: Burma is facing a public health crisis. The virus is sweeping the nation with over 200,000 cases and nearly 5000 deaths as Myanmar’s health sector struggles to keep up. To make matters worse, people falling sick do not have adequate access to life saving supplies, like personal protective equipment (PPE), oxygen, or vaccines. At this moment, there is no clear plan established by the junta to control the rising cases and treat patients effectively. Quite the contrary, hospitals and health care infrastructure are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The situation is dire. Civilians suffering from the economic and social impacts of the military coup, are now facing the worst outbreak the country has seen yet. The first COVID-19 case in Burma was recorded on 23 March 2020. In the months that followed, various committees were established to coordinate a response to the pandemic. The government proposed short sighted policies to tackle the virus, but local humanitarian responders were not consulted. The National League for Democracy (NLD) was attempting to move forward with solutions to mitigate the impacts of the virus, but when the military took over, these plans were shattered. By January 2021, the NLD purchased 30 million doses of Covishield/AstraZeneca. These vaccine doses were to be delivered in batches along with the 1.5 million doses of the vaccine gifted by the Indian government.1 However, not long after securing the vaccines, Burma descended into chaos on February 1. The NLD’s plan to curb the spread of the virus was effectively dead on arrival in the wake of the coup. In the months that followed, COVID-19 cases remained relatively low. But in recent weeks, cases have skyrocketed.2 Myanmar Doctors for Human Rights suggests this is partly due to a lack of testing that took place before the coup.3 Now, thousands are dying from COVID-19 nationwide as a third wave has spread to nearly 90% of townships throughout Burma.4 The outbreak is without a doubt, the worst the country has experienced and comes as multiple crises are threatening civilian safety, including internal conflict and adjusting to post-coup authoritarian norms. Against the backdrop of a wave of deadly cases, the junta is committing extreme acts of warfare on medical officers and their supplies. Junta soldiers have been seen forcibly dispersing civilians for merely queuing up for oxygen.5 The military has also turned their weapons on Burma’s health workers for their role in actively condemning the military’s violence since February. According to the United Nations, the junta has attacked at least 158 medical personnel, killing over 60 people and injuring dozens more.6 Security forces have also arrested and charged more than 139 doctors, and seized over 50 health facilities.7 The junta have continued to exercise their power to prioritize their needs and well-being over civilians. Military leaders and soldiers were among the first to be vaccinated in the country, and are in the position to decide who is vaccinated, if at all. As the crisis becomes more severe, civilians are losing trust in health systems under the military.8 Meanwhile, tens of thousands are being displaced as internal conflict in Burma’s ethnic states continue to ravage communities. Further, the junta’s lack of compassion is a troubling indicator of what’s to come in the coming months. The junta has undermined all efforts to respond to the humanitarian disasters unfolding in the country – of which are not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of their incompetence and inaction will be long-lasting, particularly on those least prepared to make a strong comeback alongside a crippling economy..."