Response to Myanmar Earthquakes

World Renew is planning a response to help survivors of two devastating earthquakes that struck central Myanmar on Friday, Mar. 28.

Measuring 7.7 and 6.4 on the Moment Magnitude scale, the earthquakes struck near Mandalay and Sagaing on Friday, with impacts felt across Bago, Magway, Nay Pyi Taw, and parts of Shan State. Significant impacts were also felt in neighboring countries, including Thailand, where people died when an apartment building under construction collapsed. More than 2,700 people have been reported dead as a result of the earthquakes – and with at least 400 people still missing, the death toll is expected to rise.

In affected regions in Myanmar, hospitals are overwhelmed, and communication and transport routes have been severely disrupted. Thousands of people have been sleeping in the open, fearful of aftershocks and unable to return to their damaged homes. The earthquake deepens an already severe crisis in Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people have been struggling with poverty, displacement, and limited access to health care since before the disaster.

“World Renew is working with our network peers to share Christ’s hope with displaced families and the most vulnerable people affected by this disaster,” said Garry Mayhew, head of humanitarian and emergency affairs for World Renew. Mayhew is currently traveling in Asia and connecting with local partners in the region. 

“We are prioritizing the distribution of food, shelter, and nonfood items (blankets, mosquito nets, and hygiene supplies), clean water resources (bottled water, water purification tablets, and renovated safe water points), medical support, and sanitation facilities (emergency toilets to prevent spread of disease),” Mayhew said.

Through its International Disaster Response programming, World Renew works to meet immediate needs from disasters and conflicts around the world by providing emergency supplies and equipping communities with long-term approaches to prepare for future disasters.

In moments of urgent need, your gifts help to bring immediate relief and hope for people working to rebuild their lives in the wake of a crisis. Please join World Renew in prayer and give generously to the response to these recent earthquakes.

To donate, visit worldrenew.ca in Canada or worldrenew.net in the U.S.