Following the severe earthquake that shook Myanmar and Thailand in particular on Friday, Misereor is in close contact with local partner organisations on the ground to provide emergency aid. The partners are currently assessing what those affected need most urgently and will soon start providing important relief supplies such as food, drinking water, emergency shelters, hygiene articles and medicines for at least 850 households. They are working together with many local volunteers.

"Myanmar has been in a serious crisis since the military coup in 2021. Over a third of the population is dependent on humanitarian aid and 15 million people are suffering from food insecurity. Particularly affected by the earthquake are already displaced and marginalised population groups. Since the military coup, the number of internally displaced people has risen to over 3.1 million. Now, with the earthquake, a further catastrophe has struck, hitting already collapsed health, education and supply systems," reports Franziska Wissel, country officer for Myanmar and Thailand at Misereor.

Although the military junta has already reported more than 1600 dead and tens of thousands injured, the full extent of the disaster is far from known. Power and internet outages in the country are making communication difficult in many remote affected areas. Misereor partners report interrupted transport routes and extensive damage to bridges, hospitals and schools.

Misereor's emergency aid is currently concentrating on southern Shan State, south-east of the earthquake epicentre of Mandalay. Misereor has been working with local partner organisations in Myanmar for decades and is currently financing around 20 projects. The focus is on helping people in refugee camps within the country, but also in Thailand. In addition, Misereor supports projects to combat poverty, improve the education system and strengthen people's food security in the face of great hardship and rising food prices since the military coup in the country.

Misereor is asking for donations for the realisation of its projects:

Keyword: Myanmar

IBAN: DE75 3706 0193 0000 1010 10

Bank: Pax Bank Aachen