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Myanmar: 10 Months After the Earthquake, a Response for Resilience
In Myanmar, the humanitarian situation remains critical. After years of conflict, mass displacement, and deteriorating living conditions, the earthquake on March 28, 2025, only exacerbated an already dire situation. Today, vulnerable populations continue to face significant needs in terms of aid and protection.
An Earthquake With Devastating Consequences
On March 28, 2025, an earthquake measuring between 7.7 and 7.9 on the Richter scale struck the Sagaing region of Myanmar, with an epicentre close to Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. It was the most powerful earthquake in over a century and the second deadliest in the country’s modern history. Globally, it was the biggest earthquake since the one that struck Turkey and Syria in 2023.
The consequences have been devastating: more than 5,400 people1 have lost their lives, thousands were injured, and hundreds were reported missing.
In addition to these heavy human losses, the material damage has disrupted the daily lives of millions of people. Houses and buildings collapsed, leaving thousands of families homeless and forced to move. Hospitals were severely damaged, depriving people of essential care. Many roads have been completely destroyed, isolating entire villages, while water networks and sanitation infrastructure were destroyed, plunging communities into precarious conditions, deprived of the means to survive and exposed to an increased risk of waterborne diseases.
The Emergency Response: Act Quickly, Act in the First Few Hours
Faced with the scale of the disaster, Action Against Hunger (ACF) teams in Myanmar responded immediately. After a rapid need assessment, the teams on the ground deployed a response tailored to the context of crisis and conflict, targeting the most vulnerable populations: pregnant women, infants, and children.
This intervention focused on three priorities: food security, access to water and sanitation, and support for essential health services, with the aim of responding to urgent needs and reducing public health risks in the aftermath of the disaster.
Food baskets and hygiene kits were distributed to meet the immediate needs of the affected populations. The food baskets contained basic items such as rice, oil, chickpeas, and salt. The hygiene kits included soap, sanitary pads, towels, and oral hygiene products.
At the same time, to ensure continuity of care, Action Against Hunger supported the mobile teams of the Township Health Department (THD) based in Sagaing town by providing essential medicines, medical supplies, and protective equipment. This collaboration made it possible to maintain access to health services in a context where infrastructure had been severely damaged.
A Community‑Based Response
Action Against Hunger places collaboration at the heart of its work. To ensure appropriate and sustainable solutions, Action Against Hunger teams work hand in hand with local actors. Their expertise and knowledge of the communities are essential to ensure that aid is relevant, accepted, and builds long-term resilience.
Thus, in addition to supporting local health services, cooperation has been extended to Burmese associations. Our activities have been carried out in collaboration with the Min Lan Earthquake Response Committee, an association representing the community in this district of Sagaing, which was particularly affected by the earthquake.
Action Against Hunger teams have also worked in partnership to set up a community response, enabling the distribution of water, hygiene, and sanitation kits to the most affected families.
Finally, to restore decent living conditions and curb the risk of waterborne diseases—which can lead to malnutrition—essential facilities destroyed by the earthquake have been rehabilitated or rebuilt, particularly in healthcare facilities.
These activities enable communities to access safe drinking water through, for example, the construction of water reservoirs, quality testing, and chlorination of water sources. They also help to improve sanitation—through the installation of water filters, solid waste management, and the creation of suitable disposal sites—and promote hygiene.
Rebounding After the Disaster and Supporting Reconstruction After the Earthquake
Beyond the immediate emergency, Action Against Hunger supports communities in their reconstruction, both materially and psychologically. This continuity illustrates the evolution of needs: from short-term survival to long-term resilience.
Nine months after the earthquake, the work continues. Three priorities are now emerging: restoring livelihoods, mental health, and inclusion to help Burmese families regain their independence and rebuild their future.
A major challenge concerns households now headed by women. “The earthquake struck during Friday prayers, a time when many men were gathered together. The number of male victims was particularly high,” explains Ralf THILL, Country Director for Action Against Hunger in Myanmar. “As a result, a large number of households are now headed by women. Supporting these women so that they can access independent and sustainable sources of income is essential,” he emphasizes.
Alongside the violence of the earthquake and the human and material losses, the trauma suffered by the population remains profound.
In the Min Lan neighborhood of Sagaing, where a mosque collapsed, the psychological impact remains. “Every time the call to prayer sounds, several families experience severe anxiety, demonstrating the lasting psychological impact of the disaster,” explains Ralf Thill.
The region is still experiencing seismic events, —the last one dating back to September 2025— sometimes in the middle of the night, forcing residents to stay outside for hours. These events fuel stress and anxiety.
Psychological support therefore remains central to Action Against Hunger’s response. Here too, our teams are working with local professionals to provide direct support aimed at treating the trauma and persistent stress caused by the earthquake on last March 28.
In Myanmar, the crisis is not limited to the consequences of the earthquake. It is part of a much broader humanitarian context marked by alarming food insecurity. With 19.9 million people2—more than a third of the population—in need of humanitarian aid, Action Against Hunger is continuing its long-term commitment to Myanmar and continues to work alongside local partners.
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04 April 2025
