Myanmar: One year after the earthquake, recovery continues amid conflict

One year after a powerful earthquake devastated central Myanmar, many communities are still rebuilding their lives. The disaster killed thousands and left countless families without homes — adding to the hardship already caused by years of armed conflict. Over the past twelve months, the ICRC, together with the Myanmar Red Cross Society and local partners, has assisted hundreds of thousands of people across the worst-affected areas. But recovery takes time — especially as communities continue to face the consequences of ongoing armed conflict.

In Kyun Sin Village, Sagaing Region, Moth Moth Lwin remembers the exact moment the ground gave way beneath her home. “During the earthquake, a massive fissure opened up right beneath our house, sinking nearly a man’s height deep”.

Her story reflects the reality faced by many communities across Myanmar. The earthquake struck areas already strained by years of armed conflict, displacement, and economic hardship. For many families, life had already been fragile long before the earthquake struck on 28 March 2025.

Ross Farmery, Head of the ICRC Sub-delegation in Mandalay, was in the city when the earthquake struck. In the hours that followed, the scale of destruction quickly became clear.

“After the earthquake, communities were left outside. The urgent needs were shelter, obviously, medical care, access to clean drinking water, as well as the recovery of the human remains and the rescue of those who were still trapped.”

The ICRC responded immediately, working alongside the Myanmar Red Cross Society and local partners to reach more than 300,000 people in earthquake-affected areas. Assistance included shelter support, essential household items, financial assistance, agricultural supplies, clean water and sanitation, as well as healthcare. These efforts were carried out in coordination with local authorities.

Among those who responded from the very first hours were volunteers from local organizations trained by the ICRC in emergency first aid. Working in the rubble of collapsed homes and buildings, they faced conditions that challenged them at every turn. Aung Htet Moe, a volunteer from the Myanmar Rescue organization, describes what they found:

“The patients we extracted presented with a wide range of injuries. Many had been pinned or crushed by falling masonry and heavy debris, resulting in complex bone fractures. We encountered a diverse variety of trauma cases among the survivors.”

With the support of the ICRC, around 70 civil society organizations were equipped, and nearly 1,200 first responders were mobilized. For those volunteers, the work carried a weight that went beyond the physical. Aung Htet Moe reflects on what drove them through the hardest moments:

“During the rescue operations, the moment we successfully extract someone and realize they have survived, that is everything to us. As rescuers, even though we gain no material reward for our efforts, the sheer joy of knowing we saved a life is our greatest satisfaction. That is simply the heart and soul of being a rescuer.”

One year on, signs of recovery are visible across central Myanmar. Homes are being repaired. Agricultural production has resumed and communities are gradually re-establishing access to essential services. Yet for many families, the earthquake has compounded the hardship created by years of armed conflict.

Ross Farmery reflects on both the resilience he has witnessed and the reality that endures: “I’m pleased to see how much Mandalay and the surrounding areas of central Myanmar that were impacted, have rebounded, demonstrating the resilience of the local people. But it’s important to recognise that communities were already fragile because of the conflict, and the conflict continues. The earthquake had added an extra layer of hardship on these communities.”

The ICRC, together with the MRCS and local partners, continue to support affected communities, responding both to the ongoing consequences of the earthquake and the broader humanitarian situation across the country.

For further information, please contact:

Francisco Javier Pavon, ICRC Yangon, Tel.: (+95) 9 880 918 941, fpavonmolina@icrc.org

Press Office, ICRC Geneva, email: press@icrc.org