Bamboo and drug prevention: UNODC supports Myanmar’s earthquake recovery

Southern Shan State (Myanmar) – When the earth shook on 28 March 2025, it left behind more than rubble. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake —the most powerful to hit Myanmar in nearly a century— brought down homes for thousands across central and eastern Myanmar. With an aftershock of 6.4 magnitude striking just minutes later, the disaster left a staggering toll: over 3,800 dead, more than 5,100 injured, and hundreds still missing today.

Among the hardest hit were the communities in Nyaung Shwe, Inle, and Pinlaung Townships in Southern Shan State. Entire villages lost homes, schools, and health centres. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its country office in Myanmar, has been at the heart of the response, partnering with local civil society organizations (CSOs) to deliver urgent relief and long-term psychosocial support to affected families.

For Daw Nang, a mother from Ywargyi village near Inle Lake, the days following the earthquake were filled with fear. “After the earthquake, I didn’t know how to calm my children. They were crying at night, afraid of another shake,” she said. UNODC’s parenting leaflet helped her talk to them and comfort them when they were scared at night.

UNODC’s multi-layered approach includes the distribution of Myanmar-language parenting resources focusing on emotional first aid and resilience-building. These materials, called Caring for Children in Earthquake Response, are designed to equip caregivers with simple, evidence-based techniques to support children’s emotional needs in crisis situations.

Research shows that children who experience trauma are at greater risk of substance use later in life. By empowering families with tools for emotional support, the initiative helps prevent such long-term consequences and aligns with UNODC’s broader mission of drug use prevention through early intervention.

“The combination of practical support through dignity kits and psychosocial assistance through parenting resources represents a holistic approach to disaster recovery,” said Yatta Dakowah, Head of the UNODC Office in Myanmar. “By addressing both immediate needs and long-term resilience factors, we aim to support sustainable recovery for affected communities.

A long-term vision

In the wake of the earthquake, communities in the Inle region could not access food. The scarcity of essential supplies threatened daily sustenance, particularly in a region with distinct dietary habits.  In coordination with trusted local partners, UNODC’s Myanmar Office rapidly mobilized resources to reach 36 villages in Nyaung Shwe and Pinlaung Townships. More than 2,000 dignity and hygiene kits were delivered, alongside rice packages for 3,750 families that were thoughtfully tailored to align with local food preferences. “Ensuring both cultural appropriateness and nutritional relevance, this timely intervention played a vital role in alleviating food insecurity during a critical period of recovery,” Dakowah said.

But the support went deeper than material relief. UNODC trained CSO volunteers in psychosocial first aid and multi-level parenting support to build capacity to provide community-based care in the months and years ahead.

“We are not just helping people survive; we are helping them heal,” said one local volunteer trained through the UNODC-supported programme. “People here feel seen and supported, and that makes all the difference.”

Beyond the immediate aid, a story of solidarity unfolded in the highlands of Loilem Township. When the Bamboo Group from Pan Khauk Woe Village learned that temporary bamboo shelters were being provided to families in Inle they took swift action. Working with a CSO in Inle Township, they donated 500 bamboo poles to help rebuild damaged homes.

The bamboo initiative is part of UNODC’s Alternative Development programme in Myanmar, which works to provide sustainable, licit livelihood opportunities for communities previously dependent on opium cultivation. By supporting the development of a resilient bamboo value chain —from cultivation and harvesting to processing and marketing— the programme has helped reduce reliance on illicit crops, improve household incomes, and strengthen community self-reliance.

In areas like Loilem Township, where bamboo thrives naturally, the initiative has not only created economic alternatives but also fostered environmental stewardship and social cohesion. “We knew we had something to give,” said a member of the Bamboo Group. “These people are our neighbours, and we stand with them in this time of need.”

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Continued aftershocks, difficult access to remote areas, and funding constraints hamper recovery efforts.

 “Our work doesn’t end with the emergency phase,” UNODC’s Dakowah said. “We are here to support Myanmar’s families in rebuilding their lives, emotionally and physically, and to help communities emerge from it strong and connected.”

*This story was originally published on the UNODC website.