Myanmar Earthquake: UNHCR Flash Update #2

Highlights

Two weeks on from the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the focus is shifting from search and rescue to supporting survivors who have lost their homes and loved ones. Already home to the highest number of internally displaced people (IDPs), the disaster has claimed over 3,000 lives, injured nearly 5,000 people, and left more than 370 people unaccounted for. With rains already starting in some areas and the monsoon season fast approaching, conditions for survivors are expected to worsen.

Since the onset of the emergency, UNHCR and its partners have been working around the clock in Mandalay, Sagaing, the South-East, and Nay Pyi Taw, delivering life-saving assistance. Essential relief items – blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, plastic tarpaulins, kitchen sets and solar lanterns – alongside emergency shelter materials such as tarpaulins and ropes, are being distributed. Teams are also reaching out to affected communities to provide protection services and support community-based protection initiatives.

To date, UNHCR and partners have assisted 27,774 people (5,555 families) with core relief items (CRIs) and emergency shelter supplies. More supplies are en route from Yangon to various locations to expand the humanitarian response.

Inter-agency needs assessments are ongoing in the affected regions. Several urgent needs have been identified, including emergency shelter, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), multi-purpose assistance, food, and medical care. Overcrowded collective shelters, which lack adequate lighting and gender-sensitive WASH facilities, are also exposing people to serious protection risks, including gender-based violence.