Following a devastating earthquake in Myanmar on Friday, international health organizations have begun mobilizing emergency support, warning of the scale of the unfolding crisis. The 7.7-magnitude quake has already claimed at least 144 lives, with authorities anticipating a rise in casualties. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating its response from Geneva and has activated its logistics hub in Dubai to dispatch critical trauma care supplies. WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris stressed the gravity of the situation during a media briefing, "because we see this as a huge event" with "clearly a very, very big threat to life and health."

"We've activated our logistics hub to look particularly for trauma supplies and things like external fixators because we expect that there will be many, many injuries that need to be dealt with," she explained.

Heart-breaking video captures personal tragedy and pain of survivors in Myanmar who frantically search for loved ones trapped under the rubble

Earlier today the country was hit by a 7.7 earthquake pic.twitter.com/tA8Jgf9ifi

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In addition to surgical tools and trauma kits, the WHO is preparing to send essential medicines, noting that Myanmar's health infrastructure may have sustained damage. Drawing from lessons learned during the 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquake, Harris said, "We know very well what you need to send in first."

The WHO had recently conducted a logistical assessment of how best to deliver supplies into Myanmar, which has been embroiled in internal conflict for years. "We are ready to move in -- but now we have to know exactly where, what and why. It's information from the ground that's really critical right now," Harris added.

Crisis coordination

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also issued a statement calling for immediate and unimpeded access to the affected regions. "MSF medical and humanitarian staff in Myanmar and neighbouring countries are ready to respond at scale to the urgent needs of affected communities, once authorities facilitate swift and unhindered access for teams to do assessments and provide medical care," the organization said.

It added that rapid deployment of emergency response teams is crucial in the critical first hours. "The ability to deploy assessment teams -- and ideally, surgical teams -- is crucial in the first hours and days after an earthquake to deliver life-saving surgical care for the injured."

MSF warned that the scale of the disaster could be catastrophic, saying that "given the 7.7 magnitude of the quake, its impact on people could be devastating, particularly for those needing immediate help for trauma injuries."

Read more: Powerful earthquake rocks Myanmar, Thailand, causes extensive damage

Meanwhile, Myanmar's military ruler Min Aung Hlaing made a rare televised appearance, appealing for global assistance. "Any country" willing to help was invited to send aid and donations, he announced, noting that Myanmar had already accepted support from India and the ASEAN bloc. He noted that the death toll was expected to climb further in the coming days.