Earthquakes in Myanmar

Update from our team (15th April 2025)

At the beginning of April, we put out an urgent plea for donations to support the mobilisation of emergency resources following the earthquake in Myanmar. Thanks to these donations, our mobile medical team was able to travel to Mandalay with the supplies they needed to ensure that people displaced by the earthquake remained safe and dry.

Our team arrived in Mandalay last week (07/04/25) and shared an update on their work over the weekend. This week, they travelled to the south of Shan state, we are now organising another round of supply distributions. The ongoing conflict in the area has meant little to no support is reaching affected communities, making our work there even more critical.

The above map shows the three areas we are currently working on earthquake relief, created on mapchart.net.

Health Poverty Action have distributed solar-powered torches, tarpaulins, and cash to 858 households, reaching over 3,000 people in camps in Amarapura Township, one of the worst affected areas of Mandalay.

Our team was impressed by the strength and speed of the response from Myanmar civil society. In Mandalay, food and bottled water are now widely available for everyone whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Local markets have quickly recovered, and essential items like food, fuel, and drinking water are accessible. However, shelter, clean water, and functioning sanitation facilities are still urgently needed, especially for families sleeping in temporary camps or on the street.

Government action on the ground has so far been limited. While several countries sent rescue teams, many had already begun to leave by the time our team arrived. Local civil society groups have stepped up impressively to meet immediate needs, but their resources are being stretched, and their efforts need external support to remain sustainable in the weeks to come.

The earthquake disproportionately affected poor communities, especially those whose homes were built without expensive materials, or earthquake-resilient engineering. As our team conducted assessments in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay, and Sagaing Division, they saw firsthand the extent of the damage. Immediate needs in Nay Pyi Taw were mostly covered by local civil society organisations, so the team prioritised the worst affected communities in Mandalay and Shan State.

Water and sanitation facilities are urgently needed. The team has started working with local authorities and civil society organisations to plan and implement a three-month project to repair these essential facilities in both Sagaing and Mandalay. These services are key to preventing outbreaks of communicable diseases, including skin infections, dengue fever, malaria, and dysentery. Worryingly, there is little sense of urgency from the local health authorities, so our team has made disease prevention a top priority.

In the face of these challenges, we are encouraged by the acts of solidarity and compassion we’ve witnessed. In some communities, Muslim and Buddhist religious leaders have come together to ensure that aid was shared equally. They met with our staff to help prioritise support for affected households.

While our immediate focus is on prevention and protection, our team is also assessing how we can respond to long-term needs. This includes rebuilding homes, particularly for families who do not have the resources to do so themselves, as well as rebuilding public facilities and restoring livelihoods for those most affected by the earthquake.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with communities in Myanmar.

On 28th March 2025, Myanmar was struck by two devastating earthquakes. The first, a powerful 7.7 magnitude quake, struck near the second largest city, Mandalay. It destroyed homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure across central Myanmar.

Just 12 minutes later, a second major earthquake, measuring 6.4 magnitude, hit the same region. More aftershocks have continued to hit the region, with tremors felt as far away as Thailand and China.

The impact has been catastrophic for communities already struggling with the ongoing conflict, displacement, and poverty. People in Myanmar are now facing even greater hardship, with little resources to meet their immediate needs at this critical time.

Homes, roads, hospitals and other critical services have been destroyed, and thousands have been left homeless and injured. Displaced communities have been particularly affected by the earthquakes, with limited access to food, shelter, and medical care. Hospitals and clinics, already under strain due to supply shortages, are overwhelmed with injured survivors.

Health Poverty Action has worked in Myanmar since 1994. Our colleagues in the country have assessed the situation and developed a plan of action to provide temporary shelters, food and water to families in affected communities.

We are sending a mobile medical team to Mandalay, one of the worst affected cities in Myanmar. This team will be equipped with emergency and medical supplies to ensure people are safe and healthy.

We urgently need donations to mobilise these resources; our team needs to support 1000 families that are currently sleeping on the street.

• £10 could pay for rice for a family for a week.
• £17 could pay for a tarpaulin to help a family shelter.
• £37 could enable a family to buy basic food items for a month.