Quake on March 28, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, hit central regions with deadly power, killed about 3,800 people and wounded over 5,000, according to the UN estimates.
The disaster destroyed infrastructure and home across Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway, which displaced tens of thousands more in a country that is already struggling with over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the military coup in 2021.
“Societies are still rolling from the earthquakes – the strongest country has experienced in a century,“Said Jorge Moreira da Silva, CEO of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), who spoke with journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York via video from Beijing after a three-day visit to Myanmar.
“The destruction caused by earthquakes composed the existing challenges of conflict, displacement and serious humanitarian needs.“
Need resources
UNOPS, which maintains the largest UN presence in Myanmar with nearly 500 employees, mobilized $ 25 million within weeks after the disaster and has reached half a million people with life -saving support.
“My colleagues worked quickly with partners to deliver shelters, clean water and insert infrastructure specialists for quick assessments,” said Mr. Da Silva.
However, he warned that much greater international support is needed to meet the extent of the need.
The World Bank estimates total damage of almost $ 11 billion, with full reconstruction expected to cost two to three times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of waste must also be cleared to enable recovery.
Mr. When Silva emphasized that reconstruction must be human-centered, inclusive and linked to peace construction efforts.
“We are repeating calls from all over the UN to end violence,” he said. “Recovery and reconstruction should support Myanmar’s journey to peace and reconciliation. Protection of civilians must be a priority.“
Women and girls face disproportionate risks
The humanitarian fallout has hit women and girls especially hard – many of whom were among those killed or wounded – and now face growing protective risks.
According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA is more than 4.6 million women in reproduction age – including over 220,000 currently pregnant – at increased risk.
Damage to health facilities, exacerbated by monsoon flooding and uncertainty, has disturbed access to emergency in obstetric care and menstrual hygiene. Meanwhile, gender -based violence is rising sharply in crowded, poorly illuminated shelters.
UNOP CEO Jorge Moreira da Silva meets with a woman and her newborn child at a health clinic.
Health system under pressure
The Risk of waterborne diseases Such as cholera and vector -borne diseases such as dengue and malaria also increase.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), while no major outbreaks were reported from May 31, cases of acute aqueous diarrhea and skin infections were ticking up.
Monsun rain has worsened conditions in temporary shelters where overcrowding and poor sanitation raise serious health concerns. Mental health remains fragile, with 67 percent of respondents in a recent study reporting emotional distress attached to the earthquake and the ongoing conflict.
WHO and its partners have provided more than 300,000 vaccine doses – including tetanus and rabies – but access remains limited and underfunded healthcare.
Prolonged crisis
More than 3.25 million people remain displaced in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021, with at least another 176,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries, according to Refugee Agency, UNHCR.
This excludes the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees from earlier waves of violence.
Myanmar is still one of the world’s deadliest countries for land mines and explosive remains of war.
In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 889 injuries were reported – swelling of fear that the toll could surpass the record 1,052 deaths and injuries documented by 2023.
