Myanmar Aid Workers Battle Chaos to Reach Quake Survivors

UNFPA

In the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Myanmar’s Mandalay region, humanitarian workers are risking their safety and navigating treacherous conditions to deliver lifesaving aid to devastated communities.

The quake, which struck amid the country’s ongoing political turmoil, has left parts of Mandalay and Sagaing in ruins. Roads are shattered, communication lines broken, and shelters overwhelmed. Against this backdrop, a Rapid Response Team from the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) mobilised within 72 hours, bringing vital supplies to women and girls in the hardest-hit areas.

“The situation is dire,” said Thein Zaw Win, UNFPA’s Communications and Advocacy Analyst in Yangon, who travelled to Mandalay to witness the damage firsthand. “Entire buildings collapsed in seconds. People are sleeping in makeshift shelters or on the streets. Many haven’t seen this level of devastation in their lifetimes.”

Getting there was no small feat. Washed-out roads, collapsed bridges, and ongoing tremors turned the eight-hour drive into a ten-hour ordeal. And with monsoon rains now setting in, access is becoming even more difficult.

UNFPA teams have focused their efforts on delivering dignity kits, hygiene supplies, maternal health support, and protection services for women and girls—many of whom are cut off from medical care and living in fear of gender-based violence. Mental health support is also a key part of the response.

Beyond the rubble, another threat looms: dwindling international aid. Global funding shortfalls have left humanitarian agencies stretched thin. “We’re working with limited resources, but the needs are enormous,” said Thein. “People need food, shelter, safety—and they need it now.”

Despite the odds, frontline workers remain committed. Their message is clear: Myanmar’s earthquake survivors cannot be forgotten. Aid must reach them—before the rains bring even more devastation.

For the women, children, and families caught in this crisis, every bit of support counts.

-2025-05-01