Myanmar Earthquake: 100 days on

It has been 100 days since the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025 – the deadliest in the country's recent history. But for millions of children and their families, the crisis is far from over. 

Children are bearing the heaviest burden of this disaster, which has compounded years of conflict, poverty, and displacement. With monsoon rains now deepening the crisis, nearly 2 million children remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, facing heightened risks of family separation, exploitation, and abuse. 

The earthquake has pushed already vulnerable families beyond the edge, leaving children without safe shelter, clean water, or access to learning. Their future depends on our sustained support. 

The Scale of the Crisis 

100 days on, the numbers tell a devastating story: 

• 3,745 lives lost, with 61 people still missing and over 5,100 injured
• About 6.3 million people — including nearly 2 million children — are in need of humanitarian assistance in the worst affected areas, as the earthquake compounded existing vulnerabilities from years of conflict, poverty, and disrupted services.
• 52,000 homes damaged or destroyed, forcing families into unsafe, overcrowded shelters
• Over 2,600 schools damaged, disrupting learning for thousands of children already struggling with conflict-related displacement
• 789 hospitals damaged, limiting access to critical healthcare services
• Nearly 40 per cent of young people polled identified mental health as their top unmet need — a stark reflection of the deep psychological toll the earthquake has taken on children and adolescents already exposed to years of hardship. 

The monsoon season has made everything worse. Floods are damaging fragile shelters, contaminating water sources, and increasing disease outbreak risks in overcrowded displacement sites. 

Children Are Paying the Highest Price 

Education disrupted — again: Many children were already out of school due to conflict. Now, with over 2,600 schools damaged, returning to learning has become even harder. 

Mental health crisis deepening: The psychological impact of the earthquake, layered on years of conflict exposure, is taking a serious toll. A recent poll found that 40 per cent of adolescents are still experiencing anxiety, with nearly half feeling they lack adequate mental health support.

Malnutrition risks rising: Loss of food supplies, income, and access to services has heightened malnutrition risks, especially for children under five and pregnant women. 

Living in unsafe conditions: Thousands of families remain in overcrowded, makeshift shelters with no protection from extreme weather, exposing children to exploitation and abuse. 

How is UNICEF responding? 

UNICEF is working hand-in-hand with community partners across affected areas to deliver life-saving support where it’s needed most. From safe water and healthcare to education, nutrition, and child protection, we are reaching children and families — but the scale of need remains immense. 

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene 

More than 600,000 people reached with safe water through temporary distribution points and water purification supplies 

Health & Nutrition 

Over 122,000 people received healthcare services, including 28,000 children 

110+ metric tonnes of essential health and nutrition supplies delivered to 31 most affected townships 

7,792 children received micronutrient powders to address nutritional deficiencies 

Child Protection 

More than 73,000 people, including 50,974 children, reached with child protection services 

Over 23,000 children benefited from mental health and psychosocial support activities 

Education 

76,000 children across Kayin, Mandalay, and Sagaing regions were reached with emergency education support 

More than 17,000 children supported to resume learning through temporary learning spaces, school tents and essential learning packages 

Cash Assistance 

44,651 children and adults were reached with multipurpose humanitarian cash in the worst-affected townships, giving families dignity and flexibility to meet urgent needs 

Priority given to the most vulnerable households, including those caring for children with disabilities 

The Crisis is Far from Over 

Despite significant progress, massive gaps remain. Major funding shortfalls threaten the scale-up of life-saving and critical services, and the monsoon season continues to worsen conditions for displaced and affected families 

Children cannot afford to wait. The road to recovery will be long, and without sustained, flexible funding, an entire generation risks being left behind. 

How You Can Help

Your donation provides: 

• Safe water and sanitation for families living in displacement sites
• Temporary learning spaces to help children continue their education
• Mental health support for traumatized children and families
• Nutrition screening and treatment for malnourished children
• Cash assistance enabling families to meet their most urgent needs with dignity 

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