Immediate Relief After the Earthquake
Following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, families in the affected regions of Mandalay, Shan State, and Naypyitaw faced a severe humanitarian crisis. The disaster resulted in immense destruction, including the loss of thousands of lives, and left many displaced with critical needs for food, water, and shelter. In response, AWO International, with funding from Aktion Deutschland Hilft, partnered with two local NGOs, to provide emergency relief. The project reached a total of 3,342 households, or 13,654 individuals. The first round of distribution took place in Mandalay Region and Shan State.
In Mandalay, the initial response targeted the Mahar Aung Myay Township, where 93 people died and thousands were displaced. We provided multipurpose cash assistance to 450 households, allowing them to purchase essential items like food and medicine. We also distributed dry food packages and hygiene kits to 450 households to help stabilize their situation and reduce the risk of disease. To ensure access to clean water, we provided conditional cash to 400 households and bottled water to 50 others. This round assisted 1,383 unique households and included operational support for two local community-based organizations.
Simultaneously, in the Mandalay and Shan State areas, we provided in-kind and cash-based food assistance to 371 households. Tarpaulin sheets for shelter were also distributed to 597 households and drinking water was provided for 290 households. Overall, the initial response supported 807 unique households.
Reaching the Most Vulnerable with Care and Dignity
The second round of distribution was in Naypyitaw Union Territory and the supoort in Shan State continued. Due to ongoing needs, the project was extended to Naypyitaw. We supported an additional 425 vulnerable households with food packages and non-food items, including tarpaulins, LED lamps, and chairs. This effort reached 425 unique households living in temporary shelters. We also focused on villages in Shan State that were difficult to access due to their reliance on waterways. We provided in-kind food items to 499 households and in-cash assistance for shelter and hygiene kits to 136 and 283 households, respectively. The extended interventions reached 727 unique households.
From Urgent Relief to Lasting Resilience
The aid successfully addressed immediate needs and helped families cope with the crisis with dignity. AWO International, in partnership with one local NGO, is now focused on supporting long-term recovery and resilience-building initiatives in the selected communities.
In the wake of the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28, a large-scale distribution of multipurpose cash assistance was conducted in Mandalay, providing a direct and flexible form of aid to hundreds of affected individuals. This assistance allows them to meet their most pressing needs, from food to shelter, as they cope with the aftermath of the disaster.
In a collaborative effort to bring relief, community members assist in unloading bottled drinking water from boats in Shan State. This essential aid is being distributed to populations affected by the March 28 earthquake, helping to meet a critical need for clean water in hard-to-reach areas dependent on waterways for transport.
Distribution of food and non-food items in Naypyitaw including rice, cooking oil, beans, and tarpaulins, to help affected households rebuild their lives after the widespread destruction. This aid was specifically targeted at vulnerable families living in temporary shelters with limited access to basic services.
Community members in Shan State receive vital food packages. In this photo, a distribution is underway, providing essential supplies like rice, cooking oil, and salt.
In Mandalay, community members and aid workers collaborate on the distribution of essential supplies to earthquake-affected individuals. This scene captures the organized effort to provide vital food and non-food items, including hygiene kits, to highly vulnerable families who lost their homes and livelihoods.
Projectinfo
| Place/Region | Myanmar / Southeast Asia |
|---|---|
| Activities |
|
| Duration | 7 April August 2025 – 31 July 2027 |
| Budget | 124.000 € |
| Sponsor | Aktion Deutschland Hilft |
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