Earthquake in Myanmar
Help us deliver food, shelter, sanitation kits, essential supplies, and life-saving assistance to 10000 people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. Every donation counts.
On Friday, March 28, a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Asia.
Its epicenter was recorded in Myanmar, 16 kilometers northwest of Sagaing, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The situation remains dire and continues to evolve: a large aftershock of magnitude 6.5 struck shortly after the first quake, which was recorded at approximately 12:50 PM local time (7:20 AM CET).
The Myanmar earthquake was nearly as strong as the one that struck Syria and Turkey in early 2023, which caused over 57,000 casualties and displaced millions of people.
We are in constant contact with our 30 Burmese colleagues and are monitoring the well-being of the 600 children supported by Italian families (who will be constantly updated on the situation) through AVSI's Distance Support Program, as well as all the people supported through our projects in the affected area. Communication is extremely difficult and always at risk of disruption. The AVSI humanitarian team is still assessing the earthquake impact and the most urgent needs of the population, but it is already clear that thousands of people will require food, medical supplies, essential goods, shelter, and assistance.
Our work in Myanmar
AVSI started working in Myanmar in 2007. Since 2021, we have been carrying out emergency and development projects especially in conflict-affected areas, focusing on education, protection, food security and livelihoods, women's protection and empowerment, nutrition, access to water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction.
AVSI currently has ongoing projects in the Shan State, in northwestern Myanmar, close to the earthquake’s epicenter.
Myanmar’s ongoing crisis: an overlooked humanitarian emergency
Since 2021, the people of Myanmar have been enduring the consequences of the military coup. 70% of the Burmese population lives in rural areas, where daily clashes and bombings force people to flee their homes, looking for shelter in the forest. Many young people live in hiding to avoid being recruited, as the country is still under martial law. Internet access is often cut off, further isolating Myanmar from the rest of the world. Prices are high, and people have to queue for hours just to purchase food.
Before the coup, only 8% of the population relied on humanitarian aid. Since 2021, one in two people now depends on it. The World Bank sets the extreme poverty line at about $2 per day, yet in Myanmar, the average income is only $1 per day. This means that even when people do find a job, their income remains below the global poverty line.
For a population already suffering, this is yet another terrible crisis to face.