A powerful earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025 has left over 3,000 people dead and thousands without homes and in urgent need of food, water and shelter.
Registering a magnitude of 7.7, the epicentre was located approximately 17 km from Mandalay, the nation's second-largest city, home to about 1.5 million people.
The tremor has caused significant structural damage in Mandalay, including the collapse of monasteries, mosques, hospitals and other buildings with debris scattered across streets.
Our local partners are coordinating a rapid emergency response to reach those most affected as quickly as possible.
In a country already facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced by conflict and instability, the scale of this tragedy is unprecedented.
We urgently need your support to provide emergency food, shelter, and medical care as soon as possible.
Donate to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal
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What is happening in Myanmar?
Myanmar's State Administration Council has declared a state of emergency across six of the worst-affected areas by the earthquake: Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, northeastern Shan State, Naypyidaw, and Bago.
3,140,758 people are estimated to be living within 50 km of the epicentre with approximately 1.3 million people exposed to severe shaking, and around 560,000 individuals residing within 20 km of the epicentre
The earthquake was also felt across the region, including in Bangkok— nearly 900 km away — where widespread panic led to evacuations from high-rise buildings.
The earthquake further compounds Myanmar’s deepening humanitarian crisis.
The country continues to grapple with armed conflict, food insecurity, recurrent monsoon flooding, and record-high displacement.
Myanmar has the fifth highest number of people in need of humanitarian assistance globally – 20 million, or about a third of the country.
How ActionAid's partners are responding in Myanmar
Working with our partners in the most affected areas, the response has started in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Inle (Northern & Southern Shan).
Affected areas are very difficult to reach due to the severe destruction of roads. But we have activated our emergency funds and our local partners are working tirelessly to reach the worst-hit communities.
- Community-led camps have been established in Sagaing which include shelter, washing facilities and psychosocial support. Each camp includes shared kitchen spaces, managed by community volunteers, to prepare and distribute food collectively.
- In Mandalay, local partners are currently focused on reaching small, scattered communities with emergencies food and water supplies, provision of rescue equipment and medical support.
Aung Min Naing, Program Director of Future Light Youth Development Organisation said that untimely heavy rains have deepened the crisis for families displaced by the earthquake:
The heavy rain is a second disaster for thousands of families who lost everything in the earthquake. Many people have been sleeping out in the open on mats, with the few belongings they’ve been able to salvage. Now that the storms have started, where are they supposed to go?
The bamboo shelters we built were designed to offer shade from the intense heat – not to withstand these kinds of storms. Tarpaulins have been ripped away by the wind, and people have nowhere dry to go. Some are even taking refuge in damaged buildings that could collapse at any moment.”
Donate to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal now.
ActionAid’s work with partners in Myanmar
ActionAid has been working with local partners in Myanmar since 2006.
Through our partners we provide humanitarian relief, tackle gender-based violence and build resilience within communities to disasters such as floods, landslides and cyclones.
Our work has a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment including access to seed banks and loans for women farmers.
We also support national civil society organisations and grassroots groups led by women and young people.
About ActionAid
ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty.
Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want.
We operate in rural and urban communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
We're committed to ending the cycle of violence in communities around the world, enabling women's economic empowerment, and supporting women's and girls' rights during humanitarian crises.
Where your money goes
90% of your donation will go directly to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal.
10% of your donation will be retained for ActionAid’s Emergency Action Fund which will only be used for ensuring we are prepared and able to respond quickly and more effectively to future emergencies and crises.
If the total amount raised for this appeal exceeds the funds needed for the response, ActionAid will transfer the remaining balance to the Emergency Action Fund. All Gift Aid claimed on donations will fund ActionAid’s work across the world, wherever the need is greatest.
Page updated 17 April 2025