Disaster Response Myanmar Project #69275

Myanmar Earthquake Relief

by IsraAID

Project Report | Nov 27, 2025
Restoring Water and Hope in Central Myanmar

By IsraAID Staff | IsraAID Myanmar

On March 28, 2025, Central Myanmar was rocked by two major earthquakes. The disaster claimed at least 5,000 lives, displaced thousands more, and decimated critical infrastructure. The 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes, as well as the numerous aftershocks, struck a region already facing a complex web of underreported crises, including armed conflict and flooding.

IsraAID deployed our emergency response experts within 48 hours. Working hand-in-hand with local partners like the Chan Myae Myitta Development Association (CMMDA) and the Inle Lake Youth Group, we focused on reaching the most vulnerable in the Mandalay, Sagaing, and Nyuang Shwe regions. Our response prioritized two critical pillars: restoring access to safe water to prevent disease, and providing psychosocial support to heal the invisible wounds of trauma. To date, we have directly supported over 11,000 people across 15 communities.

In many villages, the earthquake destroyed wells and contaminated water sources. IsraAID and our partners restored safe water access for 11 rural villages, reaching over 9,200 people. This involved drilling new boreholes, repairing wells, and installing solar-powered pumps in off-grid communities to ensure resilience against power cuts. We also distributed immediate relief items to the hardest-hit households, including 300 dignity kits, mosquito nets, and over 400 community-sized water filters for schools and monasteries sheltering displaced families.

The psychological impact of this disaster, compounded by years of conflict, has been immense. In a region with few mental health professionals, equipping the community to heal itself is essential. IsraAID conducted 15 specialized trainings for service providers and trained 351 community leaders in psychosocial support. By equipping these local leaders - from youth groups to disaster response volunteers - with the tools to provide psychological first aid, we are building a sustainable network of support that will last long after our teams have left.

Thank you for being the vital link that supports families in Myanmar to rebuild not just their infrastructure, but their hope for the future.

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Jul 30, 2025
Local-led, long-lasting access to safe drinking water takes a village

By IsraAID Myanmar Emergency Team | IsraAID Myanmar Emergency Team

Central Myanmar is still recovering from two major earthquakes – 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude - that struck four months ago, on March 28, 2025. Although exact numbers are difficult to estimate, at least 5,000 people were killed and thousands more displaced. Myanmar was already experiencing several underreported humanitarian crises: almost 20 million people were affected by four years of armed conflict, political instability, flooding, and interruption of basic services in the lead-up to this emergency. The earthquake, which affected more than 6.5 million people, only added to their existing vulnerabilities.

With damaged infrastructure threatening a secondary health crisis and mental wellbeing at risk, IsraAID’s emergency response experts deployed within 48 hours. We immediately partnered with local organizations to provide hundreds of the worst-affected households, including internally displaced people (IDPs), with essential relief items. These included dignity kits, mosquito nets, jerry cans, solar lamps, and water filters. The filters - 426 in total – are large enough to serve 1-2 households or an entire community. We prioritized schools, hospitals, and monasteries, especially those housing IDPs, to reach thousands of vulnerable people.

Today, we are developing longer-term strategies to support communities’ self-led resilience, focusing on those severely exposed to further crises.

For example, communities surrounding Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s natural wonders, were still recovering from last year’s floods when the earthquake struck. It contaminated the lake, which compromised wells and latrines, and damaged other sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. IsraAID worked with five Inle Lake communities to design two solutions: a household sanitation model and a community-based water system. Both combine traditional knowledge with low-cost technology, using local materials. They are designed to be affordable, sustainable, and resilient to flood risks. The models can be scaled up to other local areas, and they are suitable for floating and in-land communities alike.

We also worked with a local partner organization, CMMDA, to restore safe water access in 11 rural villages with damaged or salinized water sources. We reached more than 9,000 people, serving the entire population in each village. Each solution was tailored to the village’s individual needs, and community members were involved at every stage, from design to delivery.

We couldn't do it without you - thank you for your support!

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