Three months on from the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, people still urgently need humanitarian aid. Families are living outside in makeshift shelters, exposed to the monsoon rains and a growing risk of disease.  

The scale of the destruction is vast. As well as homes, countless businesses and areas of farmland were destroyed in the earthquake. For many, access to essential medicine and health support is incredibly difficult to reach, and children are still processing the trauma of everything they have been through.

These images show the destruction caused by the disaster, the reality of living conditions faced by millions, and also the impact donations to the DEC Myanmar Earthquake Appeal are making to some of those who have lost so much.

People stand by the debris of a collapsed building on the day of the earthquake

Following the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that devastated huge areas of Myanmar, at least 120,000 buildings were destroyed. Many more were left severely damaged, making them unsafe for people to return to, especially following hundreds of aftershocks. 

This image shows the destruction seen in one of the worst affected areas, close to Myanmar’s second largest city Mandalay.

PEople wash clothes in front of a collapsed Bridge

The earthquake destroyed vital infrastructure - including roads and buildings - across the affected regions, cutting off communities from essential services.

This image shows the extent of the damage not just to buildings, but also key infrastructure relied on for the transportation of aid in the aftermath of the disaster.

Damage caused by a storm at a makeshift shelter camp 

Days after the earthquakes struck, the affected region was hit by storms, further worsening conditions for people already heavily affected by displacement and a lack of effective shelter. It is estimated that 5.2 million people in the worst earthquake affected areas are still in need of shelter assistance.

This image shows the conditions many rural families living in temporary camps are facing as monsoon season begins.

Father fans his newborn baby, forced to sleep outside during a heatwave

Thida* had given birth to her baby just eight days before the earthquake. The family were forced to sleep in a temporary shelter outside after their building was deemed unsafe. The couple were focused on protecting their baby from the mosquitoes at night.

These are the realities faced by families after having their homes destroyed, and their access to healthcare severely affected. 

man washes himself with a bucket in courtyard of a church 

A group of displaced families sheltered in the courtyard of a Catholic church after losing their homes to the earthquake. Tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed, and three months on, families are still living outside, exposed to the monsoon rains with a growing risk of disease.

Mother and son wear traditional Thanaka to shield from sun in makeshift shelter

Following the earthquake, families were sleeping outside in temperatures of over 40 degrees celsius. The mother wears 'thanaka' a cosmetic paste made from ground tree bark, offering a cooling sensation and sun protection.

The image showcases the living conditions for many communities in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, faced with heatwaves and intense monsoon rains. 

aid worker delivers a session on water purification

It was estimated that at least 20 per cent of water sources were destroyed in the earthquake. DEC charity World Vision visited earthquake-affected communities to deliver water purification sachets and provide demonstrations on how to use them.

This image shows some of the innovative ways DEC members are helping people in Myanmar deal with shortages of clean water. 

a doctor treats children at a mobile health clinic

Since the earthquakes, DEC charity International Rescue Committee has been running mobile health clinics funded by donations to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal.

The clinics help to reach people who might otherwise not be able to access standard healthcare services. The monsoon season will only make things harder, as rural areas are cut off by the rain, and waterborne diseases spread.

Aid workers lead a play activity in a child-friendly space

Many of those affected by the earthquakes were children, who have often lost their loved ones, their homes and had their education disrupted. Child-friendly spaces, this one run by DEC charity World Vision, help children to begin to feel safe again and return to a sense of normality.

Spaces like these are key in psychological recovery for children, and show the importance of giving them spaces where they are safe and can express emotions. 

A woman receives a Hygiene and Family kit from an aid distribution

In the aftermath of the earthquakes, displaced families - especially those with children and women - have been receiving hygiene kits, kitchen sets, warm blankets, and water buckets to support their daily living needs.

Items such as kitchen utensils and blankets help to provide much-needed practical support for displaced families.