「Myanmar」 : Long-Term Support in a Disaster Zone
Surveying the temple grounds, the number of evacuees has visibly grown from about 100 two days ago to roughly 130 households, or 400 people. “We can’t live in our house anymore. We’ll stay in this shelter until we’re forced out,” one evacuee said weakly.
Harsh Reality: Lost Homes, Jobs, and Soaring Prices
The massive earthquake that struck central Myanmar devastated Sagaing, the city closest to the epicenter, leaving survivors with deep physical and emotional scars. “I’m terrified. Our house didn’t collapse, but I can’t sleep inside. If another quake hit at night, we wouldn’t be able to escape. I heard aftershocks could continue until April 21, so we won’t stay home until after that time.” a resident shared. Mandalay and Sagaing residents say they’ve never experienced such a quake. After the magnitude 7.7 earthquake, aftershocks persist almost daily, with a magnitude 5.5 quake hitting on April 13, two weeks later. “Many buildings survived the first quake, so people stayed home. No one expected a second one. Just as we felt safe, it struck, collapsing many houses,” another explained.
In Sagaing, evacuees live in temples, sports fields, or makeshift tents along roads and near ruined homes. A 40-year-old woman at the temple shared her story:
“Our house collapsed, so we came to this temple. Before, I supported my family as a motorbike taxi driver, but my bike broke, and my job is gone. Prices have skyrocketed—water bottles went from 700 kyat to over 1,000. Gasoline nearly doubled, making shopping trips nearly impossible. We need money to clear rubble and rebuild, but the temple provides sleep, water, and some food. I don’t know how long the monks will let us stay.”
Monk’s Concerns: “How Will We Feed These Evacuees?”
The temple’s monk, hosting nearly 400 evacuees, voiced growing unease:
“Myanmar has a strong spirit of mutual help. Individuals and local groups bring supplies, so food reaches evacuees now. But this support won’t last forever. My real fear is how we’ll feed them when donations dry up. We’ll care for them for now, but not indefinitely.” Both survivors and local supporters feel mounting anxiety about the future.
Long-Term Support Plan
For now, Peace Winds supports medical care, provides supplies to local NGOs at shelters, and installs solar lanterns to improve living conditions. However, economic hardship may lead to increased homelessness triggered by the disaster. To address this, Peace Winds is exploring partnerships with local organizations for medium- and long-term aid, including material support and livelihood recovery.
Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Relief: Call for Donations
Peace Winds is aiding Myanmar’s earthquake victims. Your donations power our work, saving lives and building futures. Please support those in need.
Note: Due to overseas operations, we cannot accept goods donations.