Powerful Earthquake Rocks Myanmar
UNICEF teams are on the ground assessing damage and mobilizing emergency support for children cut off from essential services. The earthquake is the latest blow to a country already struggling with escalating conflict and climate shocks.
UNICEF teams already responding to the ongoing crisis in Myanmar affecting millions of children are now mobilizing to provide emergency support for families devastated by a magnitude 7.7.earthquake that struck central Myanmar at 12:50 p.m. on March 28, 2025. The quake's epicenter was just outside Mandalay, the nation's second largest city; a magnitude 6.4 aftershock followed 12 minutes later.
Initial reports show severe damage in Sagaing as well as in Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay, urban centers that are home to hundreds of thousands of children. The Mandalay region is among the hardest-hit areas, with widespread destruction and urgent humanitarian needs. Damage has also been reported in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand.
This earthquake is another brutal blow to children in Myanmar — many of whom were already living through conflict, displacement and deprivation. — UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
Homes, schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure have sustained severe damage. Landslides and collapsed roads have left many communities without electricity and mobile connectivity, hampering rescue efforts. Many families already surviving in fragile conditions now face even greater hardship, with limited access to safe water, health care and shelter.
News reports indicate that over 1,600 people have been killed and more than 3,400 are injured. These numbers are expected to rise further as search and rescue operations continue, with many still potentially trapped under debris.
“This earthquake is another brutal blow to children in Myanmar — many of whom were already living through conflict, displacement, and deprivation,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “In minutes, they lost loved ones, homes, and access to essential services. The needs are massive and rising by the hour.”
UNICEF staff are conducting rapid needs assessments
As part of its initial response, UNICEF is mobilizing 80 metric tons of lifesaving supplies, including health kits, medical supplies, tents and hygiene kits containing items such as soap, sanitary pads and disinfectants for immediate delivery to children and families in desperate need. Meanwhile, UNICEF teams are meeting with families to assess their most urgent needs.
When an earthquake strikes, UNICEF has the capability to respond immediately, distributing prepositioned supplies, supporting emergency response and assisting with recovery efforts. UNICEF operates the world's largest humanitarian supply warehouse, and can deliver urgently needed emergency supplies anywhere in the world within 48 to 72 hours.
The situation for children and families continues to worsen in Myanmar
UNICEF works in Myanmar with communities, local and international partners and all stakeholders to deliver lifesaving humanitarian assistance and insure critical services reach children in need. The situation for children and their families continues to worsen amid escalating conflict that has displaced more than 3.4 million people, compounded by the devastating impact of climate shocks, public health emergencies and increasing protection concerns.
Related: Children, Families at Risk in Myanmar Need Urgent Assistance
UNICEF calls for all parties to uphold the rights of children and ensure unhindered humanitarian access
Access to critical lifesaving services in Myanmar has sharply diminished, particularly for conflict-affected and vulnerable children and women. UNICEF and partners are reaching children in need, including in front line and hard-to-reach areas, with lifesaving services despite these significant challenges — but critically low funding remains a major issue.
“Children in Myanmar are enduring a crisis on top of a crisis,” said Russell. “UNICEF is scaling up our life-saving work, and the international community is responding, but more resources are urgently needed to save and protect the lives of children and their families. At the same time, we need safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to affected areas so we can assist those in desperate need.”
In 2025, UNICEF estimates that 19.9 million people, including 6.3 million children, will require humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
Right now, the lives of the most vulnerable children hang in the balance as conflicts and crises jeopardize the care and protection that they deserve. Dependable, uninterrupted and effective foreign aid is critical to the well-being of millions of children. Please contact your members of Congress and urge them to support ongoing U.S. investments in foreign assistance.
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War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
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