Yangon: Nearly three months after Myanmar’s strongest earthquake in a century, more than six million people remain in urgent need of assistance, as the disaster compounds a humanitarian crisis driven by years of conflict, political turmoil, and mass displacement. The earthquake, which struck on March 28 with a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale, devastated central regions, resulting in approximately 3,800 fatalities and over 5,000 injuries, as estimated by the United Nations.
According to United Nations, the disaster severely damaged infrastructure and homes across Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway, displacing tens of thousands more in a country already grappling with over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the 2021 military coup. UNOPS, which maintains the largest UN presence in Myanmar with nearly 500 staff, mobilized $25 million within weeks of the disaster and has reached half a million people with lifesaving support.
UNOPS officials reported swift collaboration with partners to deliver emergency shelters, clean water, and deploy infrastructure specialists for rapid assessments. However, a warning was issued that far greater international support is needed to meet the scale of needs. The World Bank estimates total damages at nearly $11 billion, with full reconstruction expected to cost two to three times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of debris must also be cleared to enable recovery.
The reconstruction process must be people-centered, inclusive, and linked to peacebuilding efforts, emphasized officials. Calls were echoed across the UN for an end to violence, with recovery and reconstruction seen as supporting Myanmar’s journey to peace and reconciliation. Protection of civilians remains a priority.
The impact on women and girls has been particularly severe, with many among those killed or injured now facing growing protection risks. According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, more than 4.6 million women of reproductive age, including over 220,000 currently pregnant, are at heightened risk. Damage to health facilities, worsened by monsoon flooding and insecurity, has disrupted access to emergency obstetric care and menstrual hygiene. Gender-based violence is reportedly rising sharply in overcrowded, poorly lit shelters.
The health system is under immense pressure, with risks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria rising. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while no major outbreaks had been reported as of May 31, cases of acute watery diarrhoea and skin infections are increasing. Monsoon rains have worsened conditions in temporary shelters, where overcrowding and poor sanitation raise serious health concerns. Mental health remains fragile, with 67 percent of respondents in a recent survey reporting emotional distress linked to the quake and ongoing conflict.
WHO and its partners have delivered more than 300,000 vaccine doses, including tetanus and rabies, but access remains limited, and health services are underfunded. The protracted crisis persists, with more than 3.25 million people displaced within Myanmar since the military coup of February 2021, and at least another 176,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to refugee agency, UNHCR. This figure excludes the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from earlier waves of violence.
Myanmar also remains one of the world’s deadliest countries for landmines and explosive remnants of war. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 889 casualties were reported, raising fears the toll could surpass the record 1,052 deaths and injuries documented in 2023.