ARDF Supports Myanmar Relief Efforts

In the wake of the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, the Church of the Province of Myanmar’s Disaster Management Committee (DMC) is providing vital humanitarian assistance to affected communities. Through multi-purpose cash, health, water, and food assistance, the DMC has been able to provide critical support to 454 households. ARDF has partnered with the Province of Myanmar and provided over $90,000 to help the DMC meet ongoing unmet humanitarian needs. 

Key Response Highlights

Since the earthquake, the DMC has been able to provide nearly 400 households with food, cooking oil and basic medical commodities.  Beyond food and medicine, shelter supplies were identified by DMC and the local population as one of the largest unmet needs right now. To address this, DMC has started a cash-for-shelter program aimed at assisting the most vulnerable people with material procurement. Finally, water and sanitation is a growing issue, as the earthquake damaged or destroyed most existing infrastructure. The lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities has increased the risk for an cholera outbreak. To meet this need, DMC has installed four water purification systems and dug a new well to ensure safe and clean water is available to communities.

 

 

 

 

Persistent Challenges

The months since the earthquake have been incredibly difficult. People affected by the earthquake often must sleep outside of their damaged homes, as anticipated aftershocks may potentially destroy already damaged structures. The lack of any proper temporary shelters during a hot and rainy season has increased the risk of illness in communities. Most concerning, damage to roads and the violence of war has made it difficult for life-saving support to get to the people who need it the most. 

Next Steps

The earthquake in Myanmar was the largest earthquake in Asia since 2015 and has killed over 3600 people. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has estimated that the increasingly violent and destructive civil war in Myanmar and the earthquake has left over 19.9 million people, the equivalent to the entire state of New York, to need humanitarian assistance. The Anglican Relief and Development Fund, partnered with the Province of Myanmar, is dedicated to continuing in its mission to reach the most vulnerable people affected by disasters. If you’d like to learn more about ARDF and its mission to generously reflect the Love of Jesus Christ throughout the world, please visit their website below and consider partnering with ARDF to support those afflicted by the earthquake in Myanmar.