Media Home
UN Web TV
UN Audiovisual Library
UN PhotoMYANMAR / EARTHQUAKES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
STORY: MYANMAR / EARTHQUAKES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
TRT: 05:48
SOURCE: OCHA
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT OCHA ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: BURMESE / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 AND 20 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR / 26 APRIL, YANGON, MYANMAR
19 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR
1. Various shots, makeshift shelters lining up the street
2. SOUNDBITE (Burmese) Tin Aung Thein, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“I am now at a site in Mandalay City, where about 400 households were affected by the earthquakes as well as a fire incident at the same time. Now, the affected people are living in makeshift shelters at the roadside. And some are also found living in community centres. We saw local well-wishers delivering food and some household items for immediate needs. Critical needs for the affected people are shelter, food, personal hygiene kits, and toilets. These people are already vulnerable depending solely on their daily wages. For their recovery, international support is greatly needed.”
3. Various shots, people impacted by the earthquake in line for a distribution of essential items
26 APRIL, YANGON, MYANMAR
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“Even before these earthquakes struck, Myanmar was a country that was already facing a spiralling humanitarian crisis. There were nearly 20 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. And what this disaster has done is, it has not only exacerbated those already extreme needs, but it has now pushed an additional 2 million people into need of assistance and protection.”
19 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR
5. Various shots, people impacted by the earthquake in line for a distribution of essential items and destruction
26 APRIL, YANGON, MYANMAR
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“One month in, there are countless people still living outside in the open air. They’re in makeshift shelters. They're in tents, and they are exposed to extremely harsh elements.”
19 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR
7. Pan right, destruction
20 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR
8. Various shots, tent site for displaced people
26 APRIL, YANGON, MYANMAR
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“The UN and NGOs have been on the ground working very closely with local organizations to deliver this aid, and since the earthquakes hit, we have reached at least 600,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene support, close to half a million people with various forms of food assistance and well over 100,000 people with essential relief items. This is some of the support that has been provided so far, but much more is needed.”
20 APRIL 2025, MANDALAY, MYANMAR
10. Various shots, displaced people living in the tents
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Nang Nom Kham, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“I am here, standing in a location that hosted almost 2000 [people of] earthquake affected-community from two villages in Mandalay. The people seeking shelter in this area are those [whose] houses have been completely collapsed or partially destroyed, and they are concerned that the aftershocks will also destroy the remaining parts of their houses. That's why they do not dare to go back to their home and seeking shelter there. So that's why we are seeking shelter over here. So, despite all of the destruction that they have witnessed, witnessing that their loved ones have been killed, witnessing that they are neighbours got injured because of the earthquake, they are standing strong for themselves, standing together despite of themselves and trying to look out for the well-being and safety of the children and also elderly people.”
12. Travelling shot, destruction
One month after two powerful earthquakes struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025, many people are still reeling from the persistent impacts. Prior to the disaster, nearly 20 million people were estimated to need humanitarian assistance in the country, and the earthquakes pushed an additional 2 million people into urgent need.
SOUNDBITE (Burmese) Tin Aung Thein, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“I am now at a site in Mandalay City, where about 400 households were affected by the earthquakes as well as a fire incident at the same time. Now, the affected people are living in makeshift shelters at the roadside. And some are also found living in community centres. We saw local well-wishers delivering food and some household items for immediate needs. Critical needs for the affected people are shelter, food, personal hygiene kits, and toilets. These people are already vulnerable depending solely on their daily wages. For their recovery, international support is greatly needed.”
With thousands of homes destroyed or damaged, countless people have no safe place to return to. One month on, many are still living outside in the open air, in makeshift shelters and tents.
SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“Even before these earthquakes struck, Myanmar was a country that was already facing a spiralling humanitarian crisis. There were nearly 20 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. And what this disaster has done is, it has not only exacerbated those already extreme needs, but it has now pushed an additional 2 million people into need of assistance and protection.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“One month in, there are countless people still living outside in the open air. They’re in makeshift shelters. They're in tents, and they are exposed to extremely harsh elements.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Christina Powell, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“The UN and NGOs have been on the ground working very closely with local organizations to deliver this aid, and since the earthquakes hit, we have reached at least 600,000 people with water, sanitation and hygiene support, close to half a million people with various forms of food assistance and well over 100,000 people with essential relief items. This is some of the support that has been provided so far, but much more is needed.”
The United Nations and NGOs have been working closely with local organizations to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of people but needs remain high.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nang Nom Kham, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Myanmar:
“I am here, standing in a location that hosted almost 2000 [people of] earthquake affected-community from two villages in Mandalay. The people seeking shelter in this area are those [whose] houses have been completely collapsed or partially destroyed, and they are concerned that the aftershocks will also destroy the remaining parts of their houses. That's why they do not dare to go back to their home and seeking shelter there. So that's why we are seeking shelter over here. So, despite all of the destruction that they have witnessed, witnessing that their loved ones have been killed, witnessing that they are neighbours got injured because of the earthquake, they are standing strong for themselves, standing together despite of themselves and trying to look out for the well-being and safety of the children and also elderly people.”
More resources and sustained access are critical to scaling up the response and reaching those in need.
