Millions of Children at Grave Risk Following Myanmar’s Deadliest Earthquake in Decades, UNICEF Calls for Urgent Response.

YANGON:

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, has left millions of children at grave risk, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis in the country. UNICEF has issued a call for urgent international intervention to address the escalating needs of children and families, whose lives have been upended by the disaster.

In what is being described as Myanmar’s deadliest earthquake in decades, official reports indicate that over 1,600 people have died and more than 3,400 have been injured, with children making up a significant portion of those affected. As search and rescue operations continue, the death toll is expected to rise further. The earthquake’s destructive force impacted vast regions, including Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Bago, and Shan, causing widespread devastation.

Massive Destruction, Critical Infrastructure Shattered

The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks caused catastrophic damage across the central and northern parts of Myanmar. Homes, schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure were severely damaged, leaving thousands of families without shelter, access to healthcare, or safe drinking water. Landslides and the collapse of critical roadways have also left many communities isolated, with power and mobile connectivity cut off in many areas.

“We have seen the worst fears realized. This earthquake has wiped out what little stability children and families had in Myanmar,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Many of these children were already living through the devastating effects of ongoing conflict, displacement, and severe deprivation. Now, they are facing even greater hardship, with no place to call home and few resources to survive.”

Children Most Vulnerable in the Aftermath

Children are among the most vulnerable in this crisis, facing multiple dangers from the aftermath of the earthquake. The destruction of homes and schools, combined with the continued threat of aftershocks, places children at risk of injury, trauma, and separation from their families. Many children have been left without access to food, clean water, medical care, or protection from exploitation and abuse.

“Children in Myanmar are enduring a crisis on top of a crisis,” Russell stated. “In an instant, they have lost their homes, their schools, and their loved ones. They are living in fear, and their immediate survival is at risk. The international community must act now to save lives and provide for their basic needs.”

UNICEF’s Urgent Response

In response to the crisis, UNICEF has mobilized 80 metric tons of emergency supplies, including medical kits, health equipment, tents, hygiene kits, and other essential items. These supplies will be distributed to children and families in the hardest-hit areas, providing immediate relief to those most in need.

UNICEF teams are already on the ground in affected regions, working with local partners and responders to assess the situation and provide life-saving aid. “The needs are growing by the hour,” said Russell. “The international community has begun to respond, but the scale of the destruction is immense. We need more resources to address the urgent needs of children and families, and we need unhindered access to reach those who are still trapped in the most affected areas.”

Humanitarian Crisis Escalates

Even before the earthquake, Myanmar was already facing one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world. Over 6.5 million children were in need of assistance, with one in three displaced persons being a child. The ongoing conflict and displacement had already left many children vulnerable, and the earthquake has now compounded their suffering.

Despite the severity of the situation, the humanitarian response in Myanmar remains critically underfunded. As of March 2025, less than 10% of the funds needed for the 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal have been received, leaving millions of children without the support they urgently require.

A Call for International Support

In light of the scale of the disaster, UNICEF is urging the international community to urgently provide funding to scale up efforts to deliver life-saving support to children and families. This includes providing access to clean water, medical care, protection services, psychosocial support, and emergency education for children who have already endured so much.

“We need urgent funding to continue our life-saving efforts, to help children get the care they need, and to provide for their immediate and long-term needs,” Russell concluded. “Every hour counts for the children of Myanmar.”

As the humanitarian community continues to work on the ground, there is an urgent need for both financial and logistical support to ensure that the most vulnerable children in Myanmar receive the help they need to survive and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this devastating disaster.