Post-Earthquake Myanmar: The Need for Emergency Resources and Humanitarian Aid Remains Enormous
Published: May 9, 2025 Reading time: 2 minutes Share: Share an articleThousands of buildings collapsed, food stocks and water facilities were damaged and much of Myanmar’s infrastructure was destroyed. These were some of the major repercussions of the earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March, killing or injuring thousands individuals. Today, the situation remains critical and the need for humanitarian aid continues to be enormous. Thanks to our Club of Friends funds, we rapidly distributed emergency aid to our partners who provided immediate relief in the country.
The earthquake damaged hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people. Many have been forced to create provisional outdoor accommodations. For this reason, providing shelter and repairing houses and buildings is paramount.
Millions of people are in need
Since the earthquake hit the country during its early harvest season, food stocks in rural communities were severely affected, and granaries collapsed. Food security is and will continue to be vitally important in the coming months, as is the rehabilitation of damaged water facilities, wells, water tanks, and piping systems.
Many injuries are trauma-related and still require surgeries and intensive care. Schools and Temporary Learning Centres were also damaged, affecting children’s education when school begins in June.
According to assessments, more than 6.3 million people are in need in the hardest hit areas, requiring a significant scale-up in response. Cash assistance remains the most preferred method in all affected regions.
To meet the most urgent needs of the most affected, we’ve released 2.5 million CZK (more than €99,000) to support our local partners in responding to the earthquake's immediate aftermath. Their response, with our support, included cash assistance and humanitarian aid in the form of health kits. We also helped coordinate volunteer manual labourers' work to help clear debris and repair damage in rural areas.
Responding together with our partners
Weeks after the devastating earthquake, together with our partners, we are still responding to critical emergency needs, primarily focused on multi-purpose cash assistance to affected families. During first two months of response we have provided 3,738 households in 8 townships with emergency cash assistance. Each household received 360,000 MMK (approx. €152).
We also continue to support our partners through technical guidance in cash programming. We have participated in capacity-sharing support with local partners in Cash Voucher Assistance, including developing guidance notes that will strengthen their capacities.
Displaced people sheltering in schools are now under pressure to relocate elsewhere as the new academic term is set to resume in early June. PIN and partners are surveying critical educational needs for the early recovery phase. Our partners will continue to monitor the situation, and we will ensure that we provide for those in need.
