Myanmar Earthquake: How DEC charities are supporting those affected

Before the earthquake struck Myanmar on the 28th of March, the country was already in crisis, with a third of the population, 19.9 million people, in urgent need of humanitarian support. Now millions more are in need.

At least 120,000 buildings have been destroyed, leaving families forced to live outside in makeshift camps on farmland or by the side of the road.  Families whose homes have been destroyed are exposed to extreme heat, facing risks of illness. The onset of monsoon rains is further threatening the safety of those living in makeshift camps.

The needs continue to be huge, but despite the many challenges delivering aid within this context, DEC charities and their local partners have already been able to reach some of the most vulnerable with lifesaving aid.

During the first 6 months of the DEC funded response, they will continue to prioritise urgent support and meeting people’s most essential needs. 

Healthcare services

Access to healthcare following natural disasters is often challenging, especially for rural communities. Even before the earthquake, over 1.5 million people were already displaced in the affected areas. Now, with the arrival of monsoon season, rural areas are at risk of being cut off by flooding, and waterborne diseases spread.

DEC charity International Rescue Committee has been running mobile health clinics, reaching communities who might otherwise not be able to access standard healthcare services.

Since the earthquake, Daw Win Kyi was feeling dizziness she did not feel before the earthquake. Being over 70, it is not easy to travel miles to a pharmacy, which is located in a nearby town. Thanks to the clinic, Daw Win Kyi was treated by a mobile health clinic, where she received medication for high blood pressure. 

Following a disaster of this scale, more than half of the population is estimated to be suffering from emotional distress. However, in Myanmar over 50% of communities do not have  access to mental health and psychosocial support services.

Doctor Thura Nyi Nyi of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) works as a medical doctor in earthquake affected areas:

“Then there are those grieving profound losses—children who lost parents, parents who lost children. So mental health support has become an essential component of our care. Nearly every survivor experiences some psychological impact, which inevitably affects physical health too.”

Access to clean water

In the aftermath of the earthquake, millions of homes were destroyed, leaving many people sleeping outside in soaring temperatures of 40 degrees. There have been reports of wells drying up, with access to clean water critically scarce.

With between 20-60 percent of water sources destroyed, DEC charity Plan International, in partnership with local organisations, have been distributing hundreds of 20-litre containers of drinking water to people affected by the earthquake.

However, the longer term issue for communities is disruption to their main water supplies, forcing some to drink contaminated water. To combat this DEC charity World Vision is providing clean drinking water and water purification sachets.

Local teams in the community have been conducting education sessions, giving instructions on how the sachets are used, helping to prevent waterborne diseases.

Temporary shelter

It is estimated that 5.2 million people in the worst earthquake affected areas are still in need of shelter assistance. Many are living in overcrowded and insecure shelters, many of which lack proper protection from extreme heat and make them increasingly vulnerable as the monsoon season approaches.

DEC charities are working with their local partners to provide shelter kits including items such as tarpaulins, ropes, tools and bamboo building materials.
 

Tin Tin*, 32, survived the earthquake together with her four-year-old daughter. While they were struggling to live in an open field in the extreme weather and heat, DEC member charity Save the Children provided shelter support for the community, including Tin Tin and her family.

“It rained a lot with heavy wind, and everyone had to run from the field to the nearest building for shelter. The next morning, Save the Children visited us and supported us with building temporary shelters. Our family now has a shelter to stay in, " says Tin Tin.

DEC charities are responding in Myanmar now and your donations are key to supporting those affected by the earthquake:

• £10 could provide [urgently needed] water to ten families for a day 
• £20 could provide essential hygiene supplies for two families for 3 months 
• £50 could provide emergency food for a family for one month