Myanmar Earthquake: WHO Emergency Response and Early Recovery Plan

On 28 March 2025, two powerful earthquakes (M7.7 and M6.4) struck central Myanmar, affecting Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi  Taw, Bago, Magway, and Shan State. Occurring amidst a complex humanitarian crisis, more than 4,700 lives have been lost, over 5,100 people have been injured, and 116 remain missing. More than 2.4 million people are now in urgent need of health services, including 453,000 classified as most vulnerable. Critical health infrastructure has sustained extensive damage, with an estimated 640 health facilities impacted by the earthquake. This damage, combined with many facilities operating at overstretched capacity, has severely limited access to essential health services. 

Within 24 hours, WHO classified the earthquake as a Grade 3 emergency—the highest level under its Emergency Response Framework. Incident management teams were activated across all levels of the organization, with a dedicated team in Myanmar supported by international deployments, experts were reallocated to earthquake affected areas. Operational support was also provided to facilitate the deployment of 90 rapid response teams to Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Sagaing to assist immediate disaster relief and recovery efforts.