Mandalay Diary

When the earth shook on 28 March, 21-year-old May Min’s life changed forever. She was preparing lunch for her family when the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck her city of Mandalay in central Myanmar. “The walls started shaking, everything was falling off the shelves, and I froze in panic until my father shouted for us to run,” she recalls.  

Although her family survived and their house remained standing, May Min witnessed unimaginable devastation as she stepped outside. “Buildings were collapsing, people were running into the streets screaming and crying for help,” she says. Her once-bustling city had turned into a scene of fear and destruction.  

Since that day, Mandalay has been rocked by frequent aftershocks, some as strong as magnitude 5. Like many others in her community, May Min now sleeps outdoors in front of her home, too afraid to stay inside. “Even the ground we stand on doesn’t feel reliable anymore,” she says. “We live in constant fear and hopelessness.”   

The earthquake has left thousands homeless and grieving. For May Min, the loss is deeply personal – her close friend and classmate was killed when her home collapsed. “She was such a cheerful person,” May Min says, her voice heavy with emotion. “Losing her so suddenly reminds me how fragile life is.”   

Children have been among the most vulnerable in this tragedy. Many have lost their homes, their schools, and even their families. “I’ve seen children wandering through the rubble looking for their parents or sitting silently by collapsed buildings,” May Min says. “It’s heartbreaking.”   

Despite her grief, May Min has thrown herself into relief efforts. She is volunteering at a local hospital, coordinating blood donation drives and organising supplies of food and water with local volunteers. But the needs are overwhelming. “There are shortages of food, clean water, medicine, and electricity,” she explains. “Doctors are struggling to save lives with limited resources.”   

May Min is also deeply concerned about potential health crises arising from unsanitary conditions. Families sleeping outdoors face mosquito-borne diseases and waterborne illnesses like cholera due to contaminated drinking water. “People are already reporting cases of diarrhoea,” she says.   

Children are particularly at risk during this crisis – not only from illness but also from hunger and trauma caused by displacement and loss. Many are left without safe spaces to play or learn, compounding their suffering in the aftermath of the disaster. 

In the midst of this devastation, UNICEF has stepped up its emergency response efforts to support children and families in Myanmar’s hardest-hit areas. Within days of the earthquake, UNICEF delivered lifesaving supplies – including clean drinking water, health kits, essential medicines, hygiene kits with soap and disinfectants, tents for shelter, and recreation kits for children. 

“The devastation in Myanmar is nothing short of catastrophic for children and families,” says June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific. With millions of children already living through conflict and deprivation before this disaster struck, UNICEF is scaling up its efforts to meet growing humanitarian needs. 

As a UNICEF U-Reporter, May Min is using her platform to amplify the voices of those affected by the disaster. She is appealing urgently for global support:   

“There are families sleeping on open ground with empty stomachs, parents searching for missing children, and children looking for missing parents,” she says, passionately. “Every second matters – for our friends, our families, our community, and our future.”  

May Min emphasises the dire need for assistance to protect children who are most vulnerable during this crisis – ensuring they have access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, and psychosocial support to recover from trauma. 

As Mandalay begins its long road to recovery, May Min continues to fight – not just for survival, but for hope and healing in her city. Her resilience is a testament to the strength of the young people of Myanmar, who refuse to give up on their communities despite immense challenges. 

*This story was originally published on the UNICEF Myanmar website.