Plan International has launched a major emergency fundraising appeal to support the delivery of life saving aid and support to thousands affected by this devastating earthquake.
The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March has had devastating impacts, with confirmation over 1700 dead, 3500 injured and countless people unaccounted for, with many modelling experts and media reporting an expected death toll well over 10,000 people.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has called it the most devastating earthquake Asia has experienced in over a century.
Prior to the earthquake, Myanmar was already the worst humanitarian crisis in our region with 19.9 million people in need of assistance. This earthquake brings an additional devastation to the conflict-affected Myanmar, and we are increasingly concerned about the toll another crisis will take on children, especially girls, and their families.
Plan International CEO Susanne Legena said: "This is a devastating and unprecedented time for the people in Myanmar, and we are doing everything we can to raise awareness of the crisis and support communities on the ground, as we coordinate with local authorities and international agencies to ensure an effective response."
A full picture of the earthquake will take weeks to emerge, with continuing high levels of stress and anxiety, as people search for their relatives.
Latest reports indicate that public infrastructure has been damaged including roads, bridges and public buildings. Approximately 51,000 buildings have been severely damaged or collapsed – 90% of which are residential according to the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC). There is growing concern for the integrity of large-scale dams, and electricity and telecommunications is intermittently down.
Plan International Humanitarian Director Unni Krishan said powerful earthquakes such as these reconfigure lives and landscapes – nothing is ever the same again.
"Right now, the provision of safe water is crucial as most if not all affected locations have reported a disruption in water supply, with repairs predicted to leave families without access to clean drinking water for the next few days," he said.
The humanitarian needs from this crisis will be significant and we are working hard to make contact with communities in the hardest hit areas. This includes taking part in a joint needs assessment with the United Nations and peer humanitarian agencies.
Haider Yaqub, Country Director for Plan International in Myanmar who is currently in Yangon, said:
"This is very serious, the airports are not functioning, roads and bridges destroyed. The people of Mandalay are terrified, both because of aftershocks and because the houses they live in might not hold. Most have fled to the mountains to be in a higher place.
"The death toll will rise, as the rubble is assessed and the situation will worsen in the coming days."
Plan International, which has worked in Myanmar since 2008, has experienced staff in the country. We are working urgently to get additional teams on the ground, assess needs and stand ready to provide support.
