One Year After the Earthquake in Central Myanmar
March 28 marked one year since a 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating communities throughout the country.
Recovery after a disaster of this scale takes a long time, but reconstruction in Myanmar is moving especially slowly. The ongoing civil war meant that many people were living in poverty even before the disaster. Recent price surges are making things even more difficult, and the international fuel crisis is hitting farmers and food production in Myanmar particularly hard. In many areas, residents do not have access to proper sanitation, medical care, or education.
To help alleviate the hardship for earthquake survivors, Peace Winds and our local partners recently provided food packages–including staples like rice, oil, and sardines–as well as hygiene kits to individuals and families in the hardest-hit areas. They have also installed water purification systems in communities that don’t otherwise have access to safe drinking water.
Peace Winds began working to support relief and recovery for survivors in Myanmar immediately after the earthquake struck last year. Our disaster medical team was one of the only overseas teams to make it into the country. Doctors and nurses spent two weeks treating nearly 200 patients who were in desperate need of medical care. We then switched our focus to emergency supplies and have provided families with shelter kits, food, and hygiene items.
Now, there are restrictions on movement, transportation of supplies, and aid work itself throughout Myanmar. This means that displaced people in many areas, especially hard-to-reach ones, are not receiving sufficient support. At the same time, survivors are working hard to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Peace Winds is grateful for your support, which has helped us deliver aid to those who need it most.