On March 28 at 12:50 PM, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar. The official death toll has surpassed 3,000, with around 5,000 injured and at least 300 still missing—though the actual figures are likely much higher.
The situation is further complicated by severe infrastructure damage, which is hampering mobility, as well as widespread power outages and communication blackouts.
To ease the arrival of humanitarian aid, the military junta has announced a temporary ceasefire lasting around twenty days, in effect until April 22, 2025.
Reports from AVSI’s local colleagues, particularly in Shan State, describe an extremely dire situation. In some villages, every building has been impacted, and on average, more than 70% of structures have been damaged. Displaced families are finding shelter in facilities provided by local authorities, or are seeking refuge in makeshift shelters, on their boats, or even outdoors.
A race against time to deliver aid in Myanmar
So far, AVSI’s team has managed to reach about 2,500 households with clean water and essential supplies.
“Major communication issues, combined with a lack of electricity and mobile networks, make it incredibly difficult to gather information,” explains Guido Calvi, Head of Humanitarian Response at AVSI. “In about a month, the monsoon season will begin, bringing intense rains and strong winds. In addition to distributing essential goods, we need to begin rebuilding homes urgently so that displaced families have shelter as soon as possible.
“The authorities are aware of the seriousness of the situation,” Calvi continues, “but their priority remains control. Even when they allow humanitarian aid, the goal is still to retain territorial control. Since 2021, we’ve faced challenges operating in government-controlled areas, but we’ve still managed to carry out our work. Everything depends on how open the authorities are to dialogue—though the overall situation remains unpredictable.”
AVSI in Myanmar
AVSI has been active in Myanmar since 2007 with a Distance Support Program and multisectoral projects focused on education, food security, and job placement for the most vulnerable populations.
Since the 2021 military coup, over 3.5 million people have been displaced due to the conflict between the junta and rebel forces. AVSI has a sustained presence in the Shan, Kachin, and Kayah States—areas that have seen intense fighting, particularly Kayah and Kachin. Shan State, meanwhile, has been one of the regions most severely affected by the earthquake. Currently, 30 Burmese staff members are working in Myanmar in close coordination with AVSI’s team in Milan and about ten local civil society organizations. All team members are safe and uninjured, though sadly, many have lost friends or relatives.
When the first tremor hit, I was in a meeting room on the fourth floor of a building. I had never experienced an earthquake of such intensity. We ran outside looking for safety, but we didn’t know what to do. Those were terrifying moments.
Swe Swe Aye Nang, AVSI’s representative in Myanmar
“In Shan State, near the epicenter, entire villages have been flattened. Right now, thousands of people urgently need humanitarian assistance: tents, blankets, food, clean water, and medical supplies,” she adds. “Hospitals are overwhelmed—even before the earthquake, access to healthcare was limited. Now, some medical facilities have been destroyed, and there’s a critical shortage of medical supplies and trained personnel.
“The greatest risk is water: it’s both scarce and contaminated. There’s a real danger of outbreaks—cholera or other infections could spread quickly.”
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