Sagaing Region is at the center of the March 28 earthquake which hit Myanmar and Thailand, leaving cities up to 90% destroyed and an official death toll already in the thousands. But the full extent of the tragedy is still unfolding, as most areas remain without power or internet, road and rail bridges have collapsed, and the military regime is blocking rescue workers and aid from entering the region in punishment for Sagaing peoples' rejection of the 2021 coup which overthrew Myanmar's democratically-elected, UN-recognized government. Instead of sending help for the injured and homeless and thousands believed to still be trapped under the rubble, the junta has launched fresh airstrikes and ground offensives since the earthquake.

International organizations and governments that want to help lack the connections to get aid into Sagaing – knowing that aid sent through the junta will not reach the civilian population. But for the last four years Michael Sladnick has worked directly with the grassroots democratic organizations under the National Unity Government who are now the only ones undertaking rescue operations and providing emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of people across Sagaing. He is currently at the Myanmar border and has established channels to use 100% of donations to get aid directly to the civilian organizations undertaking humanitarian efforts on the ground.