In response to the junta’s intensifying airstrikes on medical facilities, Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, the National Unity Government’s (NUG) Minister of Health and Education, has appealed to citizens at home and abroad, along with international donors, to support the construction of bomb-resistant underground hospitals and clinics.

“Over the past weeks and months, our hospitals and clinics whether on the frontline or in the rear, have been targeted. The strikes have escalated in April and May, and it’s clear that above-ground facilities are no longer safe. We now need to build underground hospitals and clinics that can withstand 500-pound and even 1,000-pound bombs,” Dr. Zaw Wai Soe said.

His statement was made during the launch of the Safe Hospital, Safe Healthcare Fundraising Campaign, an initiative led by the NUG’s Ministry of Health to bolster medical infrastructure in resistance-held areas.

Historically, revolutionary forces have relied on makeshift hospitals and clinics nestled in forests and mountains to deliver medical care away from conflict zones. However, the growing frequency and intensity of military airstrikes have rendered these locations increasingly vulnerable, prompting the urgent need for bomb-resistant underground alternatives.

“Building these underground facilities is not just about survival, it’s about ensuring our doctors and nurses can provide care safely, and also find rest amid the chaos. In a country like Myanmar, which ranks among the most dangerous in the world for healthcare workers, this has become a necessity,” the minister added.

The Safe Hospital, Safe Healthcare Campaign aims to raise USD 400,000 between 24 May and 30 June to fund the construction of these fortified healthcare facilities. The NUG is calling on the global Myanmar community and supporters of democracy to contribute to this life-saving mission.