Collapsed and damaged buildings in Mandalay. Credit: Plan International
On 28th March, Myanmar was struck by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale. Its epicentre was 10 miles northwest of Sagaing, near Mandalay. The quake occurred at 12.50 p.m. local time and was followed 12 minutes later by a magnitude 6.4 aftershock. The tremors caused extensive damage in several cities, leading to the collapse of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.
Countless lives have been affected by this earthquake, further exacerbating the existing humanitarian needs of almost 20 million people. In an already dire humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by reduced funding, the burden on Myanmar's people has become even greater.
Our thoughts are with all the affected communities and relief workers at this difficult time.
Myanmar has declared a state of emergency in six of the most severely affected regions and appealed for international assistance. This is a crucial time when Myanmar needs solidarity. Faced with this immense destruction, where communities have seen everything they owned crumble before their eyes, our members, alongside local partners, continue their efforts to provide emergency humanitarian assistance on the ground.
How can you help? Four of the Irish Emergency Alliance’s members are urgently appealing for your support:
ActionAid – Earthquake in Myanmar
Christian Aid – Myanmar Earthquake Appeal