Earthquake Emergency Response in Myanmar

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The disaster has resulted in high civilian casualties and mass displacement. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and extensive damage was inflicted on public infrastructure such as hospitals, roads and schools. Many families are sheltering in open spaces, with limited access to assistance and protection from the elements. Electricity is only intermittently available, and communication networks continue to be interrupted.

Helvetas has been working in Myanmar since 2013 and has a team of 80 in the country — including national and international humanitarian specialists — working with our local partners to organize an emergency response.

Assessing the most critical needs

The Central Dry Zone, where the earthquake struck, has been a key geographical focus area of Helvetas’ work for more than a decade and is the catchment area for many projects implemented through a wide network of local partner organizations. Helvetas is collaborating with these local organizations and members of Alliance 2015 who also have assessment teams on ground to identify the hardest-hit populations and their most urgent needs.

Early findings from the needs assessments launched in the days following the disaster show that affected populations urgently require shelter and other basic supplies, access to clean drinking water, sanitation solutions, medical support and cash to cover other immediate needs such as transport and funeral expenses.

Delivering cash assistance

Helvetas is currently delivering vital emergency aid by supporting over 35,000 people (6,800 households) with cash assistance. When the local markets are still functioning, this form of aid is particularly efficient and useful. It supports the local economy and allows people to decide for themselves what they most urgently need — whether that’s food, medicine, hygiene products or help clearing rubble from collapsed buildings.

Supporting recovery efforts

In the weeks and months following the disaster, Helvetas will launch the next phase of support: shifting focus from meeting people’s most urgent needs to repair and reconstruction.

Plans for this phase are under discussion and might include:

• Repair of shelters and the supply of building materials
• Reconstruction of essential infrastructure, such as the water supply
• Cash-for-work programs to clear rubble and provide a secure income
• Measures to revitalize local agriculture and support small businesses

In all these activities, Helvetas will prioritize working in collaboration with our local partner network, applying a conflict-sensitive approach, and ensuring the inclusion of particularly vulnerable population groups such as people with disabilities.