7.7 magnitude Myanmar earthquake kills hundreds and creates mass devastation and humanitarian need

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 12:50 pm, local time on 28 March, causing houses and other buildings to collapse in the country and neighbouring Thailand. Tremors have been felt as far as in India. Although a full picture of the earthquake’s impact is still emerging, extensive damage is being reported across the region, especially in Mandalay – Myanmar’s second-largest city. Many are feared dead.

We know that critical infrastructure has been destroyed, with landlines not functioning, and that houses and other buildings have collapsed not just in Myanmar but in neighbouring Thailand as well. There are high levels of stress and anxiety, as people are trying to reach their relatives.

Plan International will respond to this disaster. Teams are being deployed closer to the epicentre in Mandalay to assess what communities, including and especially children, need most urgently and provide humanitarian assistance.

The humanitarian needs from this crisis will be significant and we are working hard to make contact with communities in the hardest hit areas. We will coordinate with local authorities and international agencies to ensure a coordinated, effective response. This includes taking part in a joint needs assessment with the United Nations and peer humanitarian agencies.

Haider Yaqub, Country Director for Plan International in Myanmar who is currently in Yangon, said:

“Although a full picture of the damage is still emerging, most of us have never seen such destruction. There are high levels of stress and anxiety, as people are trying to reach their relatives and disinformation is spreading on social media.

“Without a doubt, the humanitarian needs will be significant. We are working hard to make contact with communities in the hardest hit areas in and around Mandalay, but already, we know that critical infrastructure has been destroyed, with landlines not functioning, and that houses and other buildings have collapsed not just in Myanmar but in neighbouring Thailand as well.

“This disaster strikes when Myanmar is already grappling with conflict, and we are extremely concerned about the toll that yet another crisis will take on children, especially girls, and their families.

“Plan International, which has worked in Myanmar since 2008, has experienced staff in the country. We are working urgently to get additional teams on the ground, assess needs and stand ready to provide support.”

In conflict-affected Myanmar, we are concerned about the toll that yet another crisis will take on children, especially girls, and their families.

Plan International is on the ground and ready to respond to support children, especially girls, and their communities.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

[ENDS]

MEDIA

To arrange interviews please contact Hayley Cull at hayley.cull@plan.org.au or 0432 081 238, Kylie Whittard at kylie.whittard@plan.org.au or 0412 229 850.

Spokespeople Available

Su Mon Htay (Jenny), Director of People & Culture and Administration, Yangon, Myanmar

Bhagyashri Dengle, Regional Director Asia-Pacific

About Plan International Australia

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.