A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck Myanmar and Thailand, taking thousands of lives and leaving widespread damage. Get the facts about this devastating disaster and learn how you can help survivors.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, leaving at least 3,000 recorded deaths and 4,500 people injured. Many of the recorded casualties happened in hard-hit cities like Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyidaw, where photos show extensive damage, but the death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue country-wide.
Sources: AP News, Aljazeera News
This is particularly true in Myanmar, which is experiencing a civil war and strict control of information. “The death toll and injuries are expected to rise,” said Myanmar’s military government Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. With roads damaged and communication lines down, access to critical resources is limited, placing communities at even greater risk. The lack of communication network access is also hindering impact assessments and initial search and rescue efforts.
Source: AP News
The people of Myanmar have faced a number of humanitarian and human rights crises in recent years. In 2017, extreme violence against the Rohingya population in Myanmar caused more than 980,000 people to flee their homes and cross borders. In February 2021, the military junta overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and has since been engaged in a violent civil war with both long standing militias and newly-formed pro-democracy groups. The United Nations reports that more than 3 million people have been displaced by the conflict, and nearly 20 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Source: AP News
Our partners have reported that health facilities have been severely damaged, along with the infrastructure and roads crucial for delivering basic necessities. This is further hindering access to hospitals for those in urgent need of medical care and complicating search and rescue efforts. Tens of thousands of people are in desperate need of food, water, shelter, medicines, and medical supplies.
As our partners continue to check on the safety of their teams and communities, they are assessing the damage and impacts to determine where they can be most effective. Some are already providing emergency supplies like tents, food, water, basic medical care, medicine, and mosquito coils.
GlobalGiving is working with responding partners to help earthquake survivors and first responders in Myanmar and Thailand. Once urgent needs are met, the Myanmar and Thailand Earthquake Relief Fund will transition to support community-led, long-term recovery efforts as needed.
While communication lines remain down and impacts are still being assessed, GlobalGiving is preparing to support community-based partners in both Thailand and Myanmar with long histories of support to communities. These organizations include:
GlobalGiving has a long history of providing support to our community-based partners in affected communities, including in prior responses such as the Cyclone Mocha Relief Fund, Rohingya Refugee Relief Fund, and Hope in Crisis Fund. We stand ready to support our responding partners.
As the first responders to a crisis, they possess invaluable local knowledge, understanding the unique needs and challenges of their communities. This insight allows them to provide more effective and culturally appropriate aid, ensuring that resources are distributed where they are most needed. Moreover, these local individuals and organizations are often best positioned to sustain recovery efforts over time, building resilience within their communities. By empowering and supporting local actors, we can foster a more sustainable, inclusive recovery process that strengthens both immediate relief efforts and future preparedness.
Source: GlobalGiving
Why? Survivors’ needs vary greatly throughout the life cycle of recovery. Some will require financial support, medical care, and psychological assistance years down the road. You can learn more about the importance of cash donations in this infographic with more practical tips for helping survivors.
Source: GlobalGiving + USAID Center for International Disaster Information
Donate to support local communities in Myanmar and Thailand in their recovery from this disaster.
Featured Photo: Clearing debris after the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. by AP NewsFind exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
