The challenge
A devastating earthquake has struck Myanmar, compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis driven by conflict, airstrikes, blockades, and poverty under the military junta. The epicentre is located in a region experiencing intense conflict, where communities already face daily threats from military actions and extreme hardship. With thousands losing their lives and many more displaced, the need for immediate relief is critical.
Project objectives
This project aims to provide immediate, essential support to families displaced by the recent earthquake in a rural area in Myanmar. The key objectives are:
- To provide temporary emergency shelters for households who have lost their homes.
- To ensure access to safe drinking water for affected communities.
- To deliver aid directly to those in need, bypassing potentially obstructive channels.
Why this matters
In the aftermath of the earthquake, families are left exposed and without basic necessities. Providing shelter offers immediate protection from the elements and a degree of security in a volatile environment. Access to clean water is crucial for preventing disease outbreaks, which are a common threat in post-disaster situations. By working through trusted local networks, this project ensures that aid reaches the most vulnerable directly.
Activities
- Needs Assessment: Collecting on-the-ground data in cooperation with local rescue teams to accurately identify affected households and ensure support targets those most in need.
- Material Procurement: Sourcing and purchasing essential materials for shelter construction (bamboo and tarpaulin) and large 250-gallon water containers for communal drinking water access (approximately one tank per ten households).
- Distribution and Construction: Providing the procured materials to local rescue teams who will coordinate with the community to construct the temporary shelters and set up water access points.
Outcomes
This project aims to achieve:
- Provision of safe, temporary shelter for earthquake-affected households in the target area.
- Improved access to clean drinking water for the community through communal water tanks.
- Direct delivery of essential aid to vulnerable families, mitigating the risks associated with aid diversion.
Support the people of Myanmar
Following the Earthquake, UnionAID is in contact with our partners in Myanmar. We’re working to help ensure that our contributions get directly to communities which need help, and not into the coffers of the military junta, and organisations like the Myanmar Red Cross which they control.
