Tearfund’s local partner reports on the ground (English audio available on request)
This Saturday, June 28th, marks three months since a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, claiming the lives of at least 3,700 people and injuring thousands more. As the monsoon season arrives, many of those affected remain in temporary shelters or unsafe homes. Tearfund has spoken to one of its local partners who has been responding to the disaster. Due to security concerns, their words are shared anonymously.
“It has been almost three months since the devastating earthquake on March 28. Its effects are still everywhere. Families are still living in tents on playgrounds, farmlands, and in camps. Some are staying in their unsafe houses because they have nowhere else to go. With the monsoon starting, they face serious risks from rain, bad weather and diseases like flu and diarrhea. But the physical damage is only part of the story. The emotional part runs deep. People are still scared. They live with constant fear of aftershocks. When I recently visited the affected area, I spent a night in the field. I saw families trying to sleep under the open sky. Children are hugging their parents for comfort. Everyone looks tired, worried and anxious. The needs are still urgent. Families are still asking for food, clean water and a safe place to stay. Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children. Some are rebuilding their homes with bamboo, using plastic sheets for roofing, and clearing away the debris from collapsed buildings.
“And yet, even in the midst of the crisis, there is hope. Communities are standing together. People are sharing the little they have – food, water, shelter – and giving each other strength through phone calls, visits and kind words. Tearfund and local partners responded quickly after the earthquake. They supported search and rescue efforts, provided hot meals and clean water, and moved families to safe places. Now they are helping people build temporary shelters and begin the long road to recovery.
“Schools have reopened and children are going back to class. Some families are using the help they have received to pay for healthcare and school fees. But the need is still great. People want to rebuild their lives, their future. They are asking for continued support and prayers not just to survive, but to stand strong again. When I walk with families, they tell me this is the hardest thing they have ever faced. But they also speak with gratitude for the support that came when they needed it most. They speak with hope that with continued help, they can recover. So, today, I want to share this message with you. The people affected by the earthquake are strong and resilient, but they cannot do this alone. They need us to help. Keep walking alongside them to help them rebuild, not just buildings, but lives filled with safety, dignity and hope. Thank you very much.”
Tearfund’s local partners in Myanmar have been providing immediate assistance so that people are able to access emergency supplies, and are providing essential needs like water, food and non-food items and cash assistance, as well as maternal health clinics and psychosocial support particularly for vulnerable children. To date, Tearfund’s local partners have reached over 15,000 individuals.
For more information or to donate to Tearfund’s emergency appeal, please visit: www.tearfund.org/myanmar-earthquake
