It has now been one month since a powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing severe loss of life and widespread destruction. An estimated 35 million people have now been impacted by the earthquake as homes and civilian infrastructure have been reduced to rubble.
Thanks to its longstanding presence in Myanmar since 1993, UNHCR has been on the ground from the onset of this emergency, working in coordination with authorities and humanitarian partners to assess and respond to the growing needs.
UNHCR’s response to the earthquake in Myanmar prioritises immediate life-saving assistance for people who have been impacted. UNHCR has been distributing emergency shelter and non-food items (NFIs), while also strengthening access to protection services. These services include communication with communities, legal assistance, psychosocial support, and targeted interventions for children, women, and persons with disabilities.
So far, UNHCR and partners have assisted 48,960 people with core relief items (CRIs) and emergency shelter supplies but there are many more that need our help.
UNHCR continues to reach out to earthquake-affected communities and is distributing information leaflets in Burmese. These leaflets provide information on available helplines, key messages about UNHCR, advice on how to seek help, the fact that all assistance is free of charge, and information on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
UNHCR is urgently seeking funding to provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the devastating earthquake in Myanmar. Priorities include:
Shelter - Provide emergency shelter kits (including plastic tarpaulin, ropes, and other essential materials) to enable people to live in safe and dignified shelters, particularly in light of the upcoming monsoon season.
Core relief items (CRIs) and multi-purpose assistance - Deliver immediate emergency CRIs, including sleeping mats, blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, buckets, and solar lamps, as well as multi-purpose assistance to support earthquake-affected populations.
£10.00 can provide a family with a 4X5-metre tarpaulin sheet to temporarily cover the damage to their shelter in the earthquake and offer protection for families exposed to excessive heat with little shelter or protection - temperatures are reaching 40 °C in Mandalay city.
£17.00 can provide a kitchen set to a family to cook and eat their meals.
£31.00 can provide an emergency shelter kit to those affected by the earthquake to maintain their shelter
£193.50 can provide a kit of essential relief items to an earthquake-affected household in Myanmar, enabling them to meet their daily households needs in times of emergency.
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