At 12:30 PM local time on March 28th, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook Myanmar and nearby Thailand and China. Without getting too technical, the epicentre of this earthquake was much closer to the surface of the earth than average, which means the tremors are felt much more violently. It’s the largest earthquake  to hit Myanamar in more than 100 years and it hit less than 20kms from Mandalay, the second largest city in the country. Tens of thousands of structures like schools, hospitals and homes have collapsed partially or completely. More than 2,700 people are confirmed dead, 10,000 more are injured, and tragically, it is expected that these numbers will continue to grow significantly as rescue efforts continue.  

The earthquake was a monster. It hit Myanmar in the midst of an armed conflict, political unrest and on the back of several natural disasters like severe floods and heat waves in 2024. The number of displaced people before March 28th was upwards of 3.5 million and this crisis will surely worsen the situation. As the temperatures are expected to continue rising above 40°C throughout April and May, so will the hardship of families and individuals living in temporary and shelters, elevating health risks and complicating humanitarian operations.  

The Humanitarian Coalition is responding. Ten of twelve Humanitarian Coalition members already had active programming in Myanmar, and they are ramping up their humanitarian activities to address urgent life-saving needs:  

• shelter 

• essential household items  

• food and health support 

• water, sanitation and hygiene services  

• critical protection and mental health and psychosocial support.  

You can help make sure women, children and men affected by the earthquake in Myanmar receive the support they need and deserve. If you can, please make your gift today.