By Vibhu Mishra
18
April 2025
The earthquakes – which hit central
Myanmar on 28 March – killed at least 3,700 people,
injured 4,800 more and left 129 still missing. However,
humanitarians warn the true toll is likely much higher due
to underreporting and continued challenges in data
collection and verification.
More than 140 aftershocks
– some as high as magnitude 5.9 – have rocked the region
since the initial tremors, exacerbating
the psychological toll, particularly on children and
displaced families, according to a bulletin
issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) on
Friday.
“Frequent strong aftershocks
continue to shake central Myanmar almost daily, increasing
fear and uncertainty,” the Office said, adding
that many families still sleep outdoors, exposed to the
elements and the risk of disease and venomous insect and
snake bites.
The tremors have also disrupted response
efforts.
There are fears that the aftershocks
may persist for months following such a major
earthquake, given that Myanmar is in a highly tectonically
active region, OCHA added.
Basic needs
unmet
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More than 4.3 million people urgently need
clean water and sanitation, as the earthquakes severely
damaged water systems, collapsed over 42,000 latrines and
caused widespread power outages that have halted water
pumping in many areas.
Damage to water systems has
forced residents to rely on unsafe sources, heightening the
risk of waterborne illnesses. Malnutrition is also a
growing concern – particularly among children – as food
insecurity worsens and nutrition support becomes harder to
deliver.
Education infrastructure has also
been hard hit. With the new school year set to begin in
June, hundreds of damaged classrooms must be cleared,
repaired or rebuilt, and clean water, toilets and basic
hygiene facilities restored before students can safely
return.
A blow to food security
The
earthquakes struck during Myanmar’s dry season, in one of
the country’s most important agricultural belts. The
hardest-hit regions are responsible for a third of the
country’s cereal production and four-fifths of its maize
output.
Damage to farmland and supporting
infrastructure now threatens food production just as the
monsoon planting season
approaches.
“Livelihoods have been upended
due to widespread damage to farmland, essential
infrastructure and other income-generating
businesses,” OCHA said.
Humanitarian
response under pressure
Despite difficult conditions,
humanitarian agencies and local responders have reached over
240,000 people with food, medical supplies and essential
items, as of 18 April.
Over 100 tonnes of medical
supplies have been delivered, and mobile health teams are
providing trauma care and psychosocial support in the
hardest-hit areas.
Despite these efforts, the
scale and urgency of the disaster demand far greater action,
resources and access, OCHA said.
Alongside
partners, the United Nations launched a $275
million appeal last week to reach an additional 1.1
million with urgent aid.
This request is on top of the
$1.1 billion humanitarian response plan launched in December
2024 to help 5.5 million of the most vulnerable people
suffering the effects of conflict and long-standing
hardship.
