ADRA Provides Ongoing Relief Efforts in Myanmar, Delivering Aid to Devastated Communities

With over 17 million affected and extensive damage reported, ADRA intensifies efforts to provide shelter, medical care, and essential support to displaced families and vulnerable communities.

ADRA International and ANNApr 21, 2025, 6:20 AM

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is intensifying its humanitarian response in Myanmar after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country on March 28, 2025. The initial quake, followed by more than 300 aftershocks, has devastated dozens of towns and cities, affecting over 17 million people across the country, including Mandalay, Naypyitaw, Sagaing, Magway, and Southern Shan.

ADRA’s emergency response personnel and volunteers have been assessing conditions and delivering emergency assistance since the onset of the catastrophe. According to local officials, nearly 3,700 people have died, more than 5,000 have been injured, and dozens remain missing. A fisherman from Inle described the situation in his village:

“In our village, not a single house was left standing. For now, since there are no good houses left in the village, we’ve had to set up temporary shelters on the ground here. There are about 400 people in the village. Everyone is facing a really hard time. It’s difficult to sleep properly, and the shelters aren’t strong or protective enough. We want to rebuild our homes, but we simply don’t have the money. We make a living by fishing, so rebuilding homes isn’t easy for us. That’s why we would like to ask for support and help from everyone for our recovery and rebuilding efforts.”

ADRA has deployed four rapid response teams to expedite recovery efforts.

“The situation remains critical, with urgent and ongoing needs for shelter, clean water, and medical care in the affected areas. Thousands of displaced families across the region continue to live in open spaces or makeshift shelters, heightening the risks faced by children, women, and the elderly. ADRA is responding as swiftly as possible, working in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the local faith organizations, and the Myanmar Red Cross Society to reach the most vulnerable,” says ADRA International’s Emergency Response specialist, Samir Khalil.

“With a long-standing history of providing humanitarian aid in Myanmar during natural disasters and periods of development, ADRA remains committed to supporting affected communities. Despite logistical challenges and other constraints, we are dedicated to helping families begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”

Humanitarian Situation

Immediate assessments by ADRA have revealed the severity of the crisis across multiple sectors:

Shelter & Displacement: More than 6,000 homes have been completely or partially destroyed, displacing thousands of families into makeshift shelters or open spaces. Additionally, 21 displacement sites have been identified, with over 75,000 people in urgent need of food, clean water, emergency shelter tents, camp management, and on-site medical assistance.

Health Impact: The earthquake has severely damaged healthcare infrastructure, with three hospitals destroyed and 22 others partially damaged. Many facilities are now forced to treat patients outdoors or in temporary tents. There is an urgent need for emergency medical teams, mobile clinics, medical supplies, essential medicines, psychological support, trauma care, and disease surveillance.

Nutrition: Vital nutrition programs have been disrupted, leading to an urgent need for food assistance and items such as high-energy biscuits and ready-to-eat meals for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers at high risk of malnutrition. Additional needs include breast milk substitutes, malnutrition screening, and provisional cooking facilities for displaced individuals.

Protection Needs: Protection concerns are escalating, particularly for children separated from their families and for those living in overcrowded conditions. There is a growing risk of psychosocial distress, family separation, child trafficking, and unsafe migration. Protection services are being prioritized to support vulnerable individuals, including unaccompanied and separated children. Safe shelter, personal care kits for women and girls, and mobile protection teams are urgently needed.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Urgent needs for safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies have been identified, as many communities face disruptions to their water supply. Over 60% of latrines have been destroyed, significantly increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as acute watery diarrhea (AWD). There is an immediate need for water purification tablets and filters, emergency latrines, handwashing stations, hygiene kits, and the repair of WASH facilities.

Education in Emergencies: More than 260 schools have collapsed or sustained severe damage, and many government, community, and monastic schools remain partially or fully impacted. Tragically, some children were injured or killed outside school premises during or after the earthquake. There is an urgent need for temporary learning spaces, educational materials, sanitation and hygiene supplies, child protection measures, and psychosocial support to help children return to safe and inclusive learning environments.

ADRA’s Response

ADRA is actively working to deliver immediate and long-term humanitarian support to communities affected by the disaster, including food, emergency shelter kits, sanitation and hygiene supplies, non-food items, and kitchen equipment. The global organization is already helping communities in the region by providing financial assistance for their most urgent needs.

“We have supported 1,793 earthquake-affected families with multipurpose cash assistance reaching 7,000 people. Multipurpose cash assistance gives us flexibility to support the families and fulfill their needs in different ways. Considering the markets are also functional, these families can access the local-level market and purchase the things that they need in this case,” explains Manish Thapa, ADRA’s Emergency Response coordinator.

“Thank you for coming to donate during such a difficult time. I will use this money I received for basic needs like food and shelter. I feel both grateful and saddened by what has happened,” said a new mom who is trying to recover after losing almost everything.

The original article was published on the ADRA International news site.